They Look Like Me

Do you remember when your child or children were first born? You held them, and then shortly thereafter, you started to examine your child’s face a little bit more closely. You looked at their eyes, forehead, nose, and lips, and you were on almost a universal journey to determine if they looked more like you, your spouse, or one of the grandparents. Everybody had an opinion as each child grew up who they looked or acted like the most.

This is cute for a while, but children do the strangest things, they grow up. Now, you can see way more of them, and their personalities have become much more amplified as teenagers. One day, at least most of us have this experience, and you are looking at your child, and you really do not like them at the moment. Not so much because of them but because they are acting just like you. You know the you your parents or spouse have been trying to explain to you, but it is clear sometimes you are just not that wonderful. If we are all honest, we have had that moment when we see our selfishness, prejudice, pride, fear, low self-esteem etc., etc., in our children that we still might have in ourselves.

These revelations are not for shaming; they are for grace and growth. Grace is in that we can be forgiven, and growth is in that if we are honest, we can heal.

Now, the fastest way I have learned to heal from these revelations is to have a James 5:16 moment with someone. It says, “Confess your faults one to another that ye may be healed.”

In parenting, having someone you can talk to, pray with, and confess your faults to is really helpful. This is the fastest way to mature as a parent.

Questions:

1. In what ways do your children exhibit positive characteristics of you?

2. In what ways do your children exhibit less than wonderful aspects of yourself?

3. Who do you confess to as a parent?