When my father died thirteen years ago, the loss was tremendous. I felt I had not only lost his companionship, but that his special qualities--humor, kindness, and compassion--had vanished with him.

But sometimes those qualities can be brought back, in unexpected ways.

The first spring after Daddy's death, I received a letter from my sister-in-law in Oklahoma. As I opened the envelope, pictures tumbled out. I couldn't help but gasp. It was dad! But it couldn't be. On closer inspection, I began to weep. The pictures were snap shots of my brother. Never before had I noticed the uncanny resemblance. As the years have passed, I have noticed other of dad's qualities in my brother--Dad's love of animals, his kindness to others, and the same sense of humor. What a comfort that has been to me.

Last year my mother passed away, and while the loss of my father was great, the loss of my mother was colossal. The thought of never seeing her, never touching her, never hearing her voice (on this earth, that is) has been almost more than I could bear.

Recently, my sister, who also lives in Oklahoma, and I met in Dallas for a short visit. Once again I was shocked at the resemblance of a sibling to a parent. For her lips and the shape of her mouth was Mom's. Her expressions and mannerisms were Mom's. And most unsettling of all, her voice was Mom's. It was all I could do to keep from crying, but through my tears, I was strangely comforted as before.

As I think about it, I can see my parents in other family members, too. My nephew Ron has daddy's hands, while my son Robbie has his build. My son Eddie looks like mother's people, especially her grandmother, while my niece Suzy's and mother's baby pictures could be of the same child. And my precious little granddaughter Jessie loves a good argument just like my daddy.

Suddenly, it occurred to me... what do others see when they look at me? Do they simply see a family resemblance to my earthly parents? Or do they look beyond my outward appearance and catch a likeness of my heavenly Father?

For it is in the Christ of the Cross that true comfort lies.

Father, as I am comforted by seeing my loving parents in members of my family, so may I bring comfort to others by their seeing Christ in me.