“You can’t see me MOM!” Jake said as he pulled his hat down over his eyes.
“Yes, I can Jake. You just can’t see me.”
There is nothing in the world like seeing from the eyes of a child. Things are crisper, easier and more clear cut. Of course the perspective held by a child comes through that child’s limited vision. They are egotistical and I don’t mean that in a negative way at all. Their world as they know it exists only from their point of view. They have little to no concept of empathy. They grow into understanding the plight and the needs of others. That’s not to say they are not sympathetic and loving towards others when someone gets hurt or is sad. On the contrary, they usually are the first ones to help console and give kind hugs and sweet kisses. But like Jake in the picture he thinks because he can’t see me I can’t see him.
As adults we are so far removed from the simplistic, innocent mind of a child. Many times we punish them thinking they should understand what they have done in different circumstances and we forget they are children, they don’t understand like we do. As a stay at home mom and a babysitter I constantly have to remind myself they are children, they don’t get that yet. I am the one who should be teaching those ideas and lessons with patience and kindness. I am the one who is not suppose to have expectations of a grown up. I screw this up daily! As do other moms I know.
Today, think of the expectations you put on your children daily. Are those expectations age appropriate? As moms and people who take care of children we must constantly question the expectations we place upon our children. Next time you get upset that your child is acting “like a 2 year old” remember the picture of Jake, he can only see out of his eyes and not ours, yet.
This is one of my favorite anecdotes about our relationship with God. I use it when we’re talking about how sin separates us from God. We’re far from him, alone in the darkness, but he’s right there with us.
Child of God to the great I AM: “You’re not there. I can’t see you.”
God: “I am here child. You must remove what is obstructing your spiritual vision in order to see me. You must get rid of the darkness.”
The only problem is that we can’t hear him either because the sin (aka hat) covers our ears too!
Just because we can’t see him, hear him, feel him doesn’t mean he is not there.
Great post.