Do You See Me? (Lisa)

Sometimes we can feel invisible to our loved ones. We wonder as a parent if our kids notice us at all, the behind the scene work, words of wisdom doled out. We question, Do they see me? Do they hear me at all?

In many ways, Claire was an easy kid to raise. She could never speak so she never argued with me. She used her eyes and body language to let me know what she wanted but she was not a demanding kid. Still, I too, sometimes wondered, did she see me? We can be our harshest critic and I often felt there was not enough of me to give. Did she notice my tries? Sometimes, I would tire of our sweet one-way conversations, growing quiet and she would bang her head back and forth with a look silently saying, Come on mom! Tell me more! Seeing this picture brought me to tears. She did see me. She knew I was trying my best.

I guess they are listening and watching when we least expect it. You begin to hear your words coming out of your grown children and you think, Ahhhhh yes! It was all worth it! All the work, passion, blood, sweat and tears. The God light in them, sees the God light in you.

I think of Jesus wondering the same, Do my children see me? Hear me? Are they listening at all? I imagine when we reflect Him in the way we live our lives, in service to others, when we listen, accepting differences in others, when we love our neighbors as ourselves, we are gazing in His face in the same way Claire gazed into mine, saying, Yes! I see You! I hear You!

Our kids are still watching and listening, even now as grown children, especially at this time in our country and church. I pray my words and actions reflect back on the Father who made me. I long to hear Him say, AHHHH! It was all worth it.