Encouragement

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(I do not have Private Messenger)


Several years ago, I was going through a time when
I just couldn't seem to get it right, spiritually.

I felt that I was a failure, always taking one step forward
and two backward...not accomplishing much.

I thought the Lord must surely be tired of my failures. This
led me to ask him:

"God, why do you put up with me? What is it you see in me
that causes you to love me? How can you stand to look at
me when I fail you so much?"

His answer was quick. He said, "Because every time I look at
you, I see a reflection of me...and I like what I see!"

Talk about awe and wonder! Instantly, a wonderful memory
flooded my being. It was when my youngest child, Amy,
was born; the year was 1970.

My husband thought two children was enough, but I wanted
another daughter. He was not thrilled when I became pregnant,
(I had stopped taking birth-control pills) and his attitude lasted
the entire nine months.

An amazing thing happened, however, the day she was born.
When my husband saw his daughter for the first time, he
became the proudest "new father" I've ever seen!

When he looked into her wonderful little face, he saw
a reflection of himself! She was the "very image" of her
daddy!

The man who was not big on buying me flowers, couldn't
seem to stop buying them and presenting them to me.

When I got home from the hospital, he cooked all of our meals for
two weeks. He did anything he could for the mother of his
little princess, including taking care of the two older children.

When the Lord reminded me of that dear-to-my-heart time, I
understood! He added, "Just as your husband looked at his new
daughter and saw a perfect reflection of himself, when I look at you,
I see me!

I created you in my image! You were made in my likeness!
All the qualities that are in me, are in you! You have my DNA
in you because you came from me!

My genes are in you. All the little things about you that make
you, "you", came from me. The potential to be just like me is
within you."

So, I say to you today, friend, be patient with yourself. Don't try to force
your Father's image to be seen. His image is there inside you. Like a
rosebud that will, at the perfect time, open into a sweet-smelling
mature flower, you too will blossom into all He has created you to be:
His image in this world.

While the rose is a bud, there is not much fragrance, but the
fragrance is there, non-the-less, waiting to come forth and be released
into the elements around it.

Remember, you are the the image of your Father! His DNA,
His genes are locked up inside you, waiting to be released. At
times the slow release causes discouragement, as it did with
me that day.

I ask you to remember the words He spoke to me:

"Each time I look at you I see a reflection of myself, and I like
what I see." Those same words apply to you, my friend.

He likes what He sees. Your short-comings do not cause Him to
lose heart. He doesn’t look at your imperfections. He sees the
potential inside you waiting to be released. He sees you as He
created you to be........His beautiful reflection in this world.

"Father, I ask that you would continue to show us, your children how to cooperate with you, so that your beauty can be seen in each of our lives. When I remember your Word, I am convinced You will complete what you have started in us...by Your Spirit."


Barbara Thompson-Young

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