Bible Reading: Psalm 139:13-14; Jeremiah 1:5

"Hey, watch it!" Kole poked his twin brother with the end of his broom. "You're stepping in my dirt pile!"

"Whoops," said Zeke. "Sorry." He took a few steps back and began sweeping the opposite side of the garage. "I can't believe I'm sweeping dust bunnies on a beautiful Saturday afternoon instead of playing baseball," he said with a groan.

"Yeah," said Kole, wiping sweat from his forehead. "And I'm missing Jackson's party." He sighed. "I hate being grounded."

"Me too," said Zeke. "Switching places to take each other's tests was a dumb idea."

As Kole wheeled the garbage can to the end of the driveway, Mrs. Dawson, the mom of one of the boys in Zeke's class, walked by. "Hi, Zeke!" she called out.

"Um, hi--I'm Kole, actually."

"Oh, right--sorry!" said Mrs. Dawson. "Sometimes I forget Zeke has a twin."

Kole sighed as he walked into the kitchen where Zeke and Mom were pouring lemonade. "What's the matter?" asked Mom.

Kole shrugged. "Nothing. Someone outside just thought I was Zeke."

"Hey, congratulations!" said Zeke, raising his glass of lemonade.

"Ha ha," said Kole sarcastically. He looked at Mom. "It just gets irritating sometimes--people thinking I'm someone else."

Mom nodded. "Yes, Dad and I knew that would happen to you boys. That's why we put you in different classes at school--so you could develop your own identities and friendships apart from each other." She took a sip of lemonade. "Of course, we never thought you'd switch places to get out of taking tests in classes you didn't like."

The boys looked at the floor. "Yeah--sorry about that," said Zeke.

"Well," said Mom, "you didn't fool me. Your faces may look the same to everyone else, but I can see the subtle differences in your noses and chins and freckles. More than that, you have completely different personalities!" She smiled. "I see each of you for who you are. And you know what? God does too. He created you so you could know and reflect Jesus in your own special way. He made each of you unique, with your own interests and abilities."

"Yeah," said Kole. "Like me being good at English and Zeke at math."

"Exactly," said Mom. She ruffled Kole's hair. "But that doesn't mean you can have Zeke take your math tests."

- Courtney Lasater