The Apple Doesn't Fall Far From The Tree

It is amazing how you can see yourself reflected in your own child.  Michael and I both have a bad habit of going and going until we can’t anymore and then being tired or sick as a result.  Today I saw that reflected in my little girl.  Usually if there is some kind of noise than we know Abby is fine.  Today Michael went to investigate when he realized that the house was too quiet.  We found Abby asleep in the middle of the floor in her room.  She literally played herself to sleep.  Michael snapped this picture of her under her favorite blanket.  I don’t think the apple falls very far from the tree with me either.  My dad will go all day doing something and when he finally sits down in his chair in the evening he’ll pass out.  He’s been known to wake up in the living room at 2am because he fell asleep.

Something I am hoping to do is being a reflection of my Heavenly Father.  I know that I am nowhere near there yet, but I am growing.  Because of what Jesus did for me by taking the punishment I deserved and giving me grace unending, I am free to obey out of love and not out of duty.  I feel that I am also free to grow and learn, and to change in a way that I wouldn’t be able to without the gospel.  I am still learning about how much the gospel has an effect on my everyday life, my ability to change, and my lens through how I see the world.  But what I do know is, by seeking God I am going to become more like him.  And that is thrilling to me!

I am reading the book NOTE TO SELF by Joe Thorn.  It is about preaching the gospel to yourself and it gives you concrete ways to do it.  It is written as a note to yourself.  Each short chapter starts with “Dear Self,” here is an example that I read this week and loved:  “Dear Self, …It is unfortunate that you forget your need to seek God, for though you are right that God is enough, you forget that he is only found to be enough by those who seek him.  Seeking God means that in all you do, you keep his honor in your mind, his Word in your heart, and his glory as your goal – so you are seeking to actually know him and make him known.”