He Has Your Eyes

It’s always a mystery what people see in the face of a baby. I’ve decided it might be like looking at a piece of art. Modern art. All I see is a blotchy, scrunched-up face with swollen eyes. But others look at the same face and say, “She looks just like you,” or, “He has his father’s eyes.” Honestly, the only thing I would notice would be Mickey Mouse ears, and then, of course, the father would also have to have Mickey Mouse ears as well. I think everyone who is reading this is probably making a mental note to keep newborns away from me.

I don’t know if any of my grandchildren look like me, but it is possible they will one day have my eyes. My maternal grandmother passed away when I was 6 years old. I didn’t ever really know her, but she was fond of a saying that my mother would repeat from time to time. My grandmother had a hard life, and I think she decided it was better to prepare for disappointment than be surprised by it. Her saying was, “You never fly so high, but you fall.” In some ways, that was her legacy to me, since that is one of the only things I remember about her. That’s the way she saw life.

My paternal grandmother also had a hard life, but saw life as a series of gifts for which she was immensely thankful. A different legacy, a different set of eyes.

My grandchildren are going to see life a certain way. The question I’ve been asking myself is, “Do I want them to have my eyes?” Be careful how you see the world; you never know who is watching.

Pastor Joe