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The Devotional Diva - Like Parent, Like Child
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The Devotional Diva - Like Parent, Like Child
By Barbara Gobbs
Executive Assistant and Ministry Partner - Pocket Full of Change Ministries
“. . .To be conformed to the likeness of his Son . . .” Romans 8:29 (NIV)
Today is a very special day for our family. It is our only daughter’s birthday. She and her husband stopped by our home this morning after another special event that I will mention later.
After chatting for a few moments, we decided to take the ‘kids’ to breakfast and jumpstart the celebration for the birthday girl. As we arrived at Cracker Barrel, I sat directly across from Stephanie. Silently past visions of her growing up flooded my mind.
She was a happy child and well behaved. She was smart and a talker, like her mom. Obviously, we know she has great social skills! When she was about eight, I took her to a fancy dinner so we could practice our etiquette and she caught the eye of two young boys at the next table. They pooled their allowance and bought her dessert.
I remembered the day I picked her up after school and we rushed off to church for a function she was to attend. She knew I was in a hurry but I could tell she was troubled. She quickly confided that she knew a secret, but admitted it wasn’t a good secret. It wasn’t long before we rushed back to report a suicide threat made by a classmate.
Many years later, I pondered over God sparing her from a car crash that certainly should have left her with severe injuries at the least, but she walked away. Then six years ago, God rescued her once again as a bank robber held a gun to her head. She was 6 months pregnant with our grandchild at the time. To the glory of God, she and her co-workers escaped unharmed and with wits enough to assist the police.
Now back to today, we sat together, both of us with little or no make-up, wearing jeans and ordering breakfasts that involved grits and biscuits. We both searched the jelly bowl for same thing - blackberry jam. Like mom, like daughter.
Interestingly, in 28 years from now, she might be having the same kind of breakfast with her daughter, treasuring the same type of past reflections of what was and the awesomeness of what is and is to come.
Oh, that other special event – today was first day of Kindergarten for my daughter’s daughter. The circle of life continues.
I need to note, during our breakfast, there were no reflections of what might have happened here or there, how many times she forgot to clean her room or left the lid off the toothpaste. Those things simply do not exist any more. (Okay, we did talk about one thing in the past – but was funny and we all laughed!)
Driving home, I couldn’t help but think; perhaps God and His Son are having breakfast this morning thinking about you and about me. Perhaps they are discussing some of the things in our past and marveling how we came through them, with their help of course!
I can see Abba and Christ as they still laugh over a few of our funnier escapades and rejoice over the growth that they’ve notice over the years. Never keeping scores of all the shoulda, woulda and coulda’s in our lives. All they can do is notice a growing resemblance. Like Father, like son, like daughter.
It’s Monday my beloveds and the week has much for us to accomplish and for some much to bear. It might be too late for breakfast, so how about having lunch or dinner with the Lord! Let Him rejoice in your presence as much as you will rejoice in His.
Throw away your scorecard of mistakes and woes and look at the only thing He does, a family resemblance.
Loving each of you!
Barbara
Divinely Inspired Victoriously Active
Barbara Gobbs is a ministry partner with and the Executive Assistant of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. For more information, to schedule a speaker for an event, or to request a newsletter, go to www.pocketfullofchange.org or call Gail Golden, Publicist at 904 316-5462. This ministry is supported by donations. If this ministry helps you or others, and God calls you to help support this work, you can make a donation to Pocket Full of Change Ministry at POB 51205, Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32240.
© Pocket Full of Change Ministries
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