Who Do People Say You Resemble?

Please read through to the end for two special announcements for August,

including an upcoming “Books & Bling” giveaway!

AUDIO LETTER

Who do people say you resemble_

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IS THERE ONE QUESTION casual acquaintances ask that makes you want to slap them silly? (Metaphorically, of course.)

If you’ve been married more than a year or two, it might be this: “So when are you guys going to have a baby?”

If allergies cause you to sneeze or cough in public, it could be: “Do you think you have Covid?”

Or if the extra weight you’ve gained is evident, the absolute worst is, “When is the baby due?”

But here’s the one I dread: “Do you know who you remind me of?”

I don’t know about you, but I brace myself when that one comes.

It happened again just two weeks ago. I was serving on the faculty of a conference in Grand Rapids for Christian speakers when a perfectly lovely lady approached me in the lunch line to tell me I bear a striking resemblance to the late comedienne Phyllis Diller. Believe me—It’s easier to wipe lipstick off your face than dismay.  

Y'all - I cannot afford this much plastic surgery.

It doesn’t occur as often now as it used to, but in my younger years I got that you-remind-me question – and an unwelcome answer – a lot.

I ruefully recall an older woman who approached me looking smug after I delivered a keynote message at a regional conference in New England in the early 90’s.

“I’ve finally figured it out!” she said.  “Who you remind me of.”

Uh-oh, I thought. Here it comes.

“Carol Channing!“ she exclaimed. “You know – the Broadway actress who does musicals.”

Maybe I did wear my hair a little like this in the 90's. . ..

Yes, I knew. The older one with the wild blonde hair and the very big mouth.

“That’s the one!” she said triumphantly. “You look just like her!”

Or the time some years later when a man on the opposite side of a legal dispute sat across from me at a table in Boston. Loud enough for me to overhear, he remarked to the man next to him, “Do you know who she looks like?”

Uh-oh. Not Carol Channing again.

That would have been pleasant, actually.

“She looks just like Steven Tyler!”

The man’s companion sounded bewildered. “The lead singer with Aerosmith?  The Demon of Screamin’? That’s a guy.”

“Yeah but look at the mouth and the eyes. Dead ringer.”

I used to have long hair, but a mustache and goatee? Never.

Ah ha, well then.  Let me just excuse myself and go join a rock group. Or maybe hide under a rock.

We all know that outward appearance is superficial. Beauty, or the lack of it, is skin deep. It doesn’t matter who we look like as much as who we are like.

 I’ve been thinking lately of friends who strongly remind me of someone.

There’s Jan, who has persevered through major health challenges and family losses while remaining dedicated to an international ministry of Christian healing prayer. Jan prays at all times.

There’s Beth, a longtime friend with a global teaching ministry who has taken tremendous heat in recent years, yet never treats her patronizing critics the way they’ve treated her. Beth loves at all times.

There’s Gail, my mentor of many years, whose quiet wisdom and empathetic heart has blessed countless women in ministry. Gail believes in others at all times.

And there’s Mike, my husband of forty-nine years, who lifts others up while never seeking the spotlight for himself. Mike serves at all times.

Boy, do they remind me of someone, and I bet you can guess exactly Who.

“Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is." 1 John 3:2

IT’S YOUR TURN! Have you ever been told you resemble someone (other than a family member?) Were you flattered or. . .  maybe not? J  Please take a moment to leave a comment.

AUGUST NEWS

1.     This Friday, August 1, I’m introducing “Shelf Indulgence”—a brand new feature for our Seasoned Souls community.

Rather than offering an occasional free book in my regular Tuesday posts as I have for years, this expanded book giveaway will go live the first Friday of each month.

Since August is vacation month for many (yay for beach reads), I’ll be giving away 3 new books plus surprise sterling-silver bling. If you’re a Seasoned Souls subscriber, all you’ll need to do to enter is leave a comment with the title of the book you’d like to win. Stay tuned!

2.     Other than Shelf Indulgence, I’m pressing pause on my weekly letters for the month of August because I’m working on a third book. No publishing contract yet, but I’m more passionate about this fresh project than anything I’ve tackled before. I’ll be back with a new letter the first Tuesday of September. Enjoy the rest of summer, y’all!