Family Resemblance

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (Galatians 5:22, NKJV)

Three people from three different generations in our family look alike. Comparing pictures it is hard to tell one from the other: my mother, my sister, and our oldest daughter.

The resemblance is so striking that when my sister Tracy put a picture of Mama on her wall, people asked, “Where did you get a black and white photograph of yourself?” This was before black and white photographs came back into fashion.

Apparently those three are not the only women in our family who bear a resemblance. Last spring my sister, her two daughters, my two daughters and I were on an outing together. A gentleman asked, “Are you all related?” When we answered yes he commented, “I thought I saw the same face six times."

Galatians 5:22 could well be called a list of spiritual characteristics. Family members resemble each other in the shape of their face, color of their eyes, skin color, etc. God’s children resemble each other by their actions and attitudes.

Therefore by their fruits you will know them. (Matthew 7:20, NKJV)