My dad went to Heaven in January. As you can imagine, it’s been a difficult few weeks for my mom, my sisters, and for Kathy and me. However, it’s also been a time to celebrate my dad’s life. He was Marine Corps MSGT Johnny Frady, often called Top Frady. He served for 22 years, completing two tours in Vietnam for which he was awarded the Bronze Star for Combat.
After his military career, my dad worked for the military as a civilian before moving into his third career as a farmer in Arkansas. Even though he was a tough Marine, he was probably the most humane person I’ve ever met. He cared about animals, no matter if they were in the woods, in the fields, in the barns, or in the house. In a similar way, Daddy cared about people and taught us to care about them, regardless of their ethnicity, economic status, or educational background. To him, you respected people because they were people.
Daddy never used this term, but he instilled in me a strong belief in the Imago Dei, or “image of God.” The Imago Dei is the belief that humans are created in God’s likeness and therefore possess inherent dignity and worth. This idea is rooted in Genesis 1:27, which states, “So God created human beings in His own image. In the image of God, He created them; male and female He created them.” This scripture emphasizes that men and women everywhere reflect God’s nature, fostering the understanding that every person should be treated with respect, care, and love because, even if they don’t realize it, they bear the image of their Creator.
Life today would be so much better if everyone believed in the Imago Dei. A strong belief that people are made in God’s imageleads us to treat one another with respect, kindness, and compassion, recognizing the inherent value in every person. Understanding that everyone is made in the image of God encourages empathy, fosters a sense of community, and highlights our shared humanity. The Imago Dei promotes the idea that we should honor one another’s dignity and value their existence, regardless of our differences. We should intentionally strive to create environments where love and understanding prevail. Finally, we should strive to reflect care and support for the well-being of every person with whom we interact, either in person or online. It’s my prayer that we would all remember to treat others as if they were made in the image of God. If we did, oh my, how different today’s world would be.
* Photo courtesy of Chad Stembridge via Unsplash
JohnJFrady.com 