Do I Know You?

And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man…1 Corinthians 15:49.

Do I know you?”...is often a phrase I hear!

I will often walk past complete strangers and their faces will light up as they approach me, believing I am someone they know! 

Often they will greet me with an enthusiastic “Hi”…until they realize I’m not the person they thought I was! 

Or, I will have a complete stranger come up and begin chatting with me, realizing a few minutes later that he or she thought I was someone else.

What do I in these instances?  I just smile because it has happened so many times…smiling seems to be the best response.

This happened just recently.  I was shopping for paint at Lowe’s with my son and daughter-in-law and the sales clerk asked…”Do I know you…you look really familiar”? 

Though this sales clerk was extremely nice and helpful as we picked out paint colors, I did not know him.

Several years ago, I had several people tell me on different occasions that they thought I looked like a well-known person who was often in the media quite a bit at that time…Princess Di.

As I walked into one of my children’s classrooms, a couple of her classmates exclaimed as I came in…”Wow…you look like Princess Di”!! 

Several years ago, during one of our ladies luncheons, a dear lady came up to me and said…”Do you know that you look a lot like Princess Di”?  

On another occasion, I was visiting my grandparents in Florida, and one of their friends shared with them that they thought their granddaughter (me) looked like Princess Di!  .

Though I didn’t see the resemblance, I would just graciously say, “thank you”.  I honestly believe that we were both tall and slender…and at that time…I wore the same style of clothing as she did…so I believed this may have contributed to the resemblance…and didn’t really give it to much thought!

However, one day I was standing in a checkout line shortly after Princess Di’s death, so obviously she was on everyone’s minds at that time.  While standing in line, I felt as though the individuals behind me were talking about me.  Hesitantly, I looked around at the two gentlemen, wondering what they were discussing.  They quickly glanced away, so I immediately turned back around.

Feeling awkward and wishing the line would move more quickly, I heard one of the gentlemen say, “Excuse me”.

Once again, I hesitantly turned around.  One of the gentlemen was holding a magazine with Princess Di’s photo on it.  As he pointed to the photo, he asked…”Has anyone ever told you that you look like her”?

I smiled and said yes, thinking that the conversation was over.  Obviously, these two gentlemen were intrigued and wanted to continue the conversation. 

Teasingly, one of the gentlemen said that maybe she wasn’t really dead after all, but standing right there in front of them!

Feeling a little less awkward, I teased back and said…”Maybe…and maybe she is heading out to meet Elvis after checking out”!  They laughed and we soon went on our way and I quickly forgot the conversation!

However, as I think of the many times when others thought they knew me or mistook me for someone else, I am reminded of the following scripture… “And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man”…1 Corinthians 15:49.

As I previously said, I don’t believe I resemble Princess Di!  And I’m not sure why on numerous occasions others have mistaken me for someone else or thought they knew me. 

However, I do pray that when others see me, that I not only bear the image of an earthly woman, but that I also bear the image of my Heavenly Father!

How I desire to bring glory to His name!

When I’m out, I pray that I am I light to all that I come in contact with.  Whether that is a dear friend or complete stranger…I pray that I am friendly and gracious…making a lasting impression that is both positive and pleasing!

I have often heard that you make a first impression within the first thirty seconds of meeting someone and that you only have one chance to make a good first impression.

In God’s strength, I hope to do just that…making a positive first impression!  I desire to bear his heavenly image…drawing others not to myself…but to my Heavenly Father!

Dear Heavenly Father…help us to bear the image of the heavenly man!  Help us to be a light to others so that when they look upon us…they see you!  Help us to always bring glory and honor to your name!