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Saturday, January 2, 2010

What Do You See??



Lately I have been studying a bit on the life of David. King David was certainly a walking conundrum. He either had his eyes on God, or somewhere in the dirt. He was either a hero or a goat and NOTHING in between.

Sound like anyone you know??

I have often felt a kindred spirit to David. Considering I either really get it right or fall so short, I know God flinches with disappointment. It is always when I take my eyes off of God and look at circumstances or people as a human that I inevitably fall on my face.

This past year, I would have missed the opportunity to get to know an incredibly special young woman had I based my opinion on my own judgement. You see, I saw this young woman as selfish, childish, and quite conceited. I based this opinion on the few times I saw her in very controlled situations. At first glance she did seem shallow but, I never took the time to speak with her......only about her to others. Yep, I participated in good ole fashion gossip. I never spoke outside my family but gossip is still gossip. Why did I do this?? I still ask myself that today.

God sometimes has a way of making me see my faults. Sometimes He's pretty in my face about it.........but not always. Sometimes, He moves quietly behind the scenes. Weaving a tapestry that will become my bigger picture.

It turns out that my daughter became friends with this young woman. At first, I was VERY skeptical. I warned my daughter repeatably to be careful as these "friends" were older and could eventually hurt her badly. Still, I felt that sometimes hard lessons need to be experienced and let the relationship develop without intervening.

The turning point for me was when I sat down one afternoon and had a very long conversation with the young woman. She was so easy to talk to. I found her to be sensitive, caring, and extremely compassionate to others. She was like many people, putting on a front until she got to know you. Having been hurt so much in her past, it was just the way she protected herself and she was young. Young people need the chance to make mistakes and grow into mature people. I was surprised about her true nature and felt immediately drawn to her. In fact, I have become somewhat of a mentor to this young woman and have grown to love her very much like my own daughter.

Initially, I felt incredibly disgusted with myself for making such rash judgements when I have fought so hard for people to see my son as person not a disability. Yet, I had done the same thing........I had done exactly the same thing to another beautiful human being.

1 Samuel 16:7 says "God does not see the same way people see. People look at the outside of a person, but the Lord looks at the heart. (NCV)" I had forgotten to see the heart first......to see as God sees. Once again..........I was the goat.

God forgives and, I learned. I carefully guard against forming opinions before getting to know someone and I definitely stay away from gossip. The lesson for me was truly seeing through God's eyes means looking inward first which is contrary to our nature.


What do you see when you look out into the world?? Sometimes stepping back and pondering what God's vision would be will keep you from being the goat too..........try it the next time your ready to jump to conclusions. Imagine how different the world would be if we all did!

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