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Finding what we have in common

My great-great grandparents immigrated to America, eventually settling on these shores and living out their lives with the next generations. Being a fifth-generation Alpena native allowed me to know my maternal great-grandparents. I remember visiting their home and marveling at how ancient they seemed, the gentle lady with soft cheeks and the dignified man with twinkling eyes. Growing up near both sets of grandparents gave me the wonderful opportunity to spend time with them and hear many colorful and interesting stories from our family history.

Two years ago, our children gifted us with a DNA ancestry kit for Christmas. Thus began a more extensive journey into the lives of generations past. We received detailed nationality percentages and other fascinating information, along with a surprise: My husband’s family history revealed a cousin of whom he had no knowledge. Through a series of emails, we learned that his cousin had been adopted and at the age of 78 was still searching for his birth father’s identity. After weeks of research, the mystery was solved, and my husband was thrilled to be able to provide his cousin with not only the father’s name, but some family pictures and history. We hope to meet soon.

We all have a father. The word father evokes many different responses — from admiration and appreciation, to sadness and pain, to anger and bitterness, or anywhere in between. Being a father is an incredibly important role. Many do it very well, although some struggle to do their best while living out of the lack they themselves experienced, and still others abdicate the privilege, leaving a void in the lives of their offspring.

We all have something else in common. Every person is made in the image of God, the Father of all creation (Genesis 1:27). Just as my husband’s cousin was on a lifelong quest to find his birth father, we each have a God-instilled longing within our hearts to seek and know our creator as Father. He desires us to know His love and goodness, for He alone is the perfect Father.

Often, the kind of relationship we have with our earthly father forms a paradigm that we unconsciously apply to God, unwittingly transferring our father’s characteristics to Him and fully expecting Him to interact with us in that very way. If we don’t understand what God is truly like, we will believe lies about Him and live our lives based on those lies. But Jesus promised, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).

Jesus came to reveal what Father God is really like (John 14:8-10). He came to issue an incredible invitation from God for each of one of us to have a personal relationship with Him: “To all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God” (John 1:12-13).

I’ve come to realize that, when we don’t know our heavenly Father, our true identity is not yet awakened, and we live out of an orphan mentality, lacking a sense of belonging and the knowledge of His deep love for us.

Jesus explained, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). He promised, “I will not leave you as orphans” (John 14:18).

Jesus is the way to the Father. Becoming a child of God happens when we are adopted by God through our faith in Christ Jesus.

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