The day the dog coughed

Ready to please

One of our funniest family moments came around the dinner table, when the dog coughed. Let me explain.

While pregnant with our children, I would develop a cough that lasted from about 4 months of gestation onward. I looked forward to the ends of pregnancy: my ribs and back muscles were seized up between the habitual coughing and rib-kicking that ended with the birth of the child.

Whether from that or another cause, each person in our family coughs. In the morning, we usually cough our way into the day. When there's in a long silence or we're intent on a lecture or conversation, we often catch ourselves relaxing our throats with a cough.

When the kids were growing up, we typically prayed "around the table" after dinner. W started, then the children from oldest to youngest would pray, and I'd wrap up. At some point of listening and waiting for our turn, each one of us would clear the throat in a cough.

We cracked up the day our poodle coughed, sitting politely at the foot of my chair. There was stunned silence, then we broke into laughter. Sweet Katy, always eager to fit in! Prayers were over. Probably, God chuckled with us.

We reproduce who we are

This morning I read Hebrews 1:In these last days [God] has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power

This is one of my favorite passages of scripture. Think of the poetic image of "the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his nature" (NIV). Don't you love that? Jesus exactly represents his Father. Want to know what God is like? What would He do if He were among us? Look at Jesus - the Son is the exact representation of God.

What characteristics and behaviors run in your family? What are you passing along to your children?

Families look alike

Are these good qualities of character and being? Worthy traits to be renewed from generation to generation? Kindness and truthfulness. Disciplined living. A bent towards the arts or athletics. A way of speaking or laughing with others.

Or are there patterns that need to be broken so that they are never again passed on? Abusive speech. Manipulation. Lying and stealing. Cheating or adultery. Devaluing the young or old.

When we are born into God's family, the traits of His nature begin to form our own character. Like most adopted children, we begin to take on the mannerisms of our Heavenly Father and his Family. He changes us into His image, forming in us a reflection of the Eldest Son, Jesus. How wonderful is that?

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*Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. Isaiah 1:8 ESV

*Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. Hebrews 1:1-3 ESV