At a Child’s Eye-Level

Larry Mancini

 

“Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it.”

 (Romans 12.9 The Message)

 

My granddaughter was over yesterday. When I told her it was time to feed our family dog, Moe, she asked if she could feed him. His food is kept in a large plastic container just off the kitchen. I asked her if she needed my help and she said, "No." She is 2 1/2. I listened as she filled the scooper with food and dumped it into his bowl. Moe began to eat and she rejoined me in the kitchen. After a few minutes she wandered away and I heard the familiar sound of the dry dog food hitting the bowl again. I ran out to see Moe enjoying seconds. Immediately I asked Emma why she did that. Without hesitating, she replied, "He looked like he was still hungry, Poppa." Emma is just tall enough to be able to look straight into Moe’s eyes. She saw something I have never seen, and she taught me a lesson I needed to learn. How many times have I just shaken the hand of a person and failed to make real eye contact with them? How many people have walked by me in need of love or affirmation or encouragement and I missed the opportunity to bless them with words to feed their souls? Sometimes it takes a child to bring the truth to our hearts. I want to be more perceptive to people's pain and needs. I don't want to pass hungry people by. I want to look into their eyes and feed them with whatever the Lord has placed in my hands.

 

Heavenly Father, as this week comes to an end, help me to slow down and actually see what is going on around me. Let me see people as you see them. Help me to look into their eyes and let me love them as you love them, Jesus. If they are hurting, give me wisdom to know what to say or do. Use me to touch their lives with your love. When my path crosses theirs, help me not to hesitate, but rather let me show them your love. I pray this in your name, O Lord. Amen!