Rainy day movie

Last night I had a dream that included a soundtrack.  Don’t judge.  They say Covid has made people have bizarre dreams, and for someone who was always a vivid dreamer, it has only intensified.  The song that stood out the most was Aerosmith’s “Dude Looks Like a Lady”, which, of course, only made me think of one thing.  Mrs. Doubtfire. 
 
I’m going somewhere with this, I promise.  In this movie, Mrs. Doubtfire is a nanny to three children, which actually are his own.  Yes, Mrs. Doubtfire is Robin Williams in disguise as a squishy old lady.  The character is making a desperate fatherly attempt to be present in his children’s lives after being less then “fatherly” and “present” for all the time before that.  And this got me thinking about our Heavenly Father.  He never comes to us in disguise.  His love for us is real and constant.  It never falters, never is questionable, and never diminishes when we don’t live up to expectation. 
 
And the reality of expectation is a serious one.  Jesus said, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matt. 5:48)  Seriously?  Perfect?  That’s a tall order.  But I don’t think it is actually one he meant to scare us with.  Funny, as I contemplate this, Jesus was perfect.  But he didn’t command us to be perfect like him, but yet be perfect as our heavenly Father.  Why would he do that, say it that way?  I think, total opinion here, that maybe it was because the reality of being perfect is daunting.  Maybe the reality of a perfect human is extreme.  And maybe the reality is that perfection is only found in and through God.
 
Heb. 10:14-17
For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.  And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says, “This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the LORD : I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Then he says, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.”
 
With that said, on this rainy day, I am going to go watch Mrs. Doubtfire with my children.  Hopefully it is as funny as I remember from my childhood.  But more importantly, I am going to pause on the covenant my Lord gave me.  One of inclusion, one where I respect his authority and his commands.  And one where through the blood of Jesus, he forgives and forgets my imperfections, and takes notice of my heart striving to please Him.