Made in His Image... Really?

There are a lot of times when I can't help but despise myself over not being able to act appropriately...

When I'm not responding to situations the way I should.
When I'm not loving people the way I should.
When I'm not making decisions the way I should.
When I'm not serving the way I should.
When I can't sacrifice for greater things the way I should.

And that "way I should" is really as how Jesus did it when He lived here on dear earth...
He responded meekly but with authority to difficult situations.
He loved people beyond human reasoning.
He made decisions according to God's will.
He served all kinds of people--poor and ordinary, although as God, He has to be served.
He sacrificed his life so I can live a great life.

And yes, even though I was made in his image, I can never equal His character and glory in as much as even a great photograph or painting can never equal its object's beauty. A mango's photograph, no matter how artistic and realistic, can never bear a mango's mouthwatering smell, nor its sour-sweet taste, not its smooth texture even though the photo was made in a real mango's image.

I'm encouraged that I was not required by my Creator to be a perfect duplicate of Him, because that's humanly impossible. And God never intends us to be that way anyway. I'm satisfied to be made in His image-- that my life will be appealing to the eyes of the people around me, so I can give glory to God as these people see God's GRACE abound in me despite my shortcomings.