Father “Look-a-Likes”
I ran across a song by Keith Urban entitled, “Song for Dad”. The lyrics caught my attention.
Lately I've been noticing
I say the same things he used to say
And I even find myself acting the very same way
I tap my fingers on the table
To the rhythm in my soul
And I jingle the car keys
When I'm ready to go
When I look in the mirror
He's right there in my eyes
Starin' back at me and I realize
[Chorus] The older I get
The more I can see
How much he loved my mother and my brother and me
And he did the best that he could
And I only hope when I have my own family
Every day I see
A little more of my father in me
There were times I thought he was bein'
Just a little bit hard on me
But now I understand he was makin' me
Become the man he knew that I could be
In everything he ever did
He always did with love
And I'm proud today to say I'm his son
When somebody says I hope I get to meet your dad
I just smile and say you already have
[Bridge] He's in my eyes
My heart, my soul
My hands, my pride
And when I feel alone
And I think I can't go on
I hear him sayin' "Son, you'll be alright"
“Everything's gonna be alright"
The song hit home. I recently commented to my husband that our oldest son, Branden walks so much like him and acts like him in so many ways. Ryan’s wife made a similar comment a few years ago. Dani said, “Mom, Ryan is becoming Dad in the way that he researches and analyzes things!” I just shook my head and replied, “Welcome to my world… this is what Ryan will look like when he is older.” We sighed and laughed.
To add to the saga, when my grandson, Judgy periodically did something, Dani texted or called me to ask if Ryan behaved that way. Each time, my answer resounded with a yes. When I look at Judgy now, I see glimpses of his father Ryan in his words and mannerisms.
But a deeper meaning evolved from this song. Our Heavenly Father desires all of us to look and act like Him. But fathers this is especially true for you, since you represent the heads of your households. But how… since no one has seen God?
Fathers, you do this by becoming like Jesus. Jesus said in John 14:7, “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also...” Paul went on to say in Romans 8:29, “ For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren.”
Fathers, God wants “look-a-likes.” He wants you to mimic Christ… to think like Jesus, say the same things Jesus says, and act the same way He acts. When you look in the mirror, a reflection of Jesus shows up. If your earthly father fell short or failed to be present in your life, you still possess a Heavenly Father.
So lets’ change a few words in the lyrics of the song to reflect a godly father’s heart.
There were times I thought God was bein'
Just a little bit hard on me
But now I understand He was makin' me
Become the man He knew that I could be
In everything God ever did
He always did with love
And I'm proud today to say I'm His son
When somebody says I hope I get to meet your dad
I just smile and say you already have
He's in my eyes
My heart, my soul
My hands, my pride
And when I feel alone
And I think I can't go on
I hear God sayin' "Son, you'll be alright."
"Everything's gonna be alright"
Every day that I see
hopefully I see a little more of my Heavenly Father in me!
Fathers, the question you must ask yourselves each day: “Do I, my wife, my children and those I love see a little more of Jesus in me?”
I don’t know about you, but I hope your desire is to become a “look-a-like” of Jesus. Each day, allow God to shape you into a wonderful vessel of His love so when your wife, children, and others see you, they see a little more of your Heavenly Father. My dad did it for me and my family. He helped me want to be more like Jesus, and I am so grateful He did.
Why? Simply …
