Mirror, Mirror

Ephesians 4:24 -- "Put on your new nature, created to be like God -truly righteous and holy."

With the nurse's back turned to us while she did some fancy finger work on a computer key-board, Steven reached over and started poking my baby's toes. By baby I mean my six foot and then some fifteen year old - and by poking his toes, I mean Steven really did start poking his toes.

I just looked at him, wondering what he was trying to figure out by pressing into pink skin with enough muster to make a white spot on the second toe joint of Tyler's middle toe. Looking down from his very tall stature onto the top of his Dad's head, Tyler asks what in the world is Dad looking for?

It hit me. I smiled. Big. Then answered for my husband [a thing that he graciously puts up with on numerous occasions]. "You've got my toes".

Steven looked up at me with a smile almost as big as mine and said: "Yes, he does."

"Ok", I replied. "But everything else I'm blaming on you." And I winked at Tyler - who's ears were turning more red by the minute - [a good indication that his Dad and I took our parental responsibilities seriously and sufficiently embarrassed him in front of his nurse.]

We found ourselves sitting at a nurse's station at Nemours Children's Medical Facility because Tyler - just like his Dad - has been diagnosed with Hoshimoto's Disease [aka: Hoshimoto's Hypothyroidism]. Essentially, this means that Tyler's immune system has erroneously come to the conclusion that his thyroid is a foreign body and has waged war against it - a fight to the death, as it were. This can be remedied with a synthetic replacement thyroid hormone - so THAT part at least was good news. . But, Hoshimoto's Hypothyroidism is a genetic anomaly, handed down through a family blood line. And THAT is the reason I told my husband that I was blaming everything else on him. You know ... like father, like son and the like ....  

The truth of the matter is: I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it if "everything else" could, indeed, be "blamed" on Steven. I adore Steven and have long since considered myself the lucky one in our marriage. It would make me beyond proud if Tyler took to HIS likeness more than he did mine. [So far, so good, by the way - I say with a smile].

I am reminded of Ephesians. I am reminded that we are called to live as Children of Light. We are called to grow in OUR Father's likeness. In Ephesisans 4 verse 17, we are flat out told to "no longer live as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused."

[Side bar, if I may: slightly off point but, I feel that I MUST point out that nowhere in the Bible does it say we can BEOME God. We cannot become a god or anything remotely resembling one - contrary to some out there who believe otherwise].

Rick Warren once drew focus to the "Put on your new nature"  part of this verse. I liked his focus because he pointed out that our existence here on Earth is a lesson in character development. In verse 22 of this chapter in Ephesians we are instructed to throw off our sinful nature, to give up our former ways of life and to instead, allow the Holy Spirit to renew our thoughts and attitudes.

We need to GROW. We need to STRIVE to be like our Father. We are never told, not ONE time, that we are going to get there. We will NEVER get there. But like so many things in our earthly existence - the value is in the journey. The joys, celebrations, and accomplishments are all wrapped in the road from point A to point B, not the actual destination - the finish line is an eternity in our Amazing Father's presence. But while on this earth - the purpose, the point to it all - is the journey.

Mirror, mirror - what face looks back at me when I step up to mirrored glass? Can I see my Father in me? Have I allowed the Holy Spirit to renew my thoughts and attitudes?

I'm going to put a big yellow Post-It Note on my mirror - it will say: "Who do you see?" Perhaps, seeing it there right next to my face every day, I'll remember to constantly strive for a different reflection.