Lessons Learned

As I read  these words, I was reminded of a very short, but profound conversation that took place many years ago between a young husband and wife.

They were our close friends, and we had gotten together at their house to visit and watch a football game. They'd been married several years longer than we had, and they'd been blessed with a little girl who was the "apple of her daddy's eye"

My friend and I chatted as we walked to the kitchen during a commercial break. As we were returning to their living room, we witnessed this common, ritualistic guy thing, being exchanged between our husbands.

They were sitting on the couch talking, and as we rounded the corner to return to our seats, a commercial came on that caught their attention. The image of a teeny-weenie-bikini clad young woman sauntered across the television screen. With the poke of an elbow, the nod of a head, and a few grins; unspoken, but not unnoticed, appreciation for her appearance was conveyed between the two.

Without missing a beat, and with absence of any malice, my friend walked over to her husband and asked him if that's how he wanted their little girl to dress when she grew up.

"Well, no!" he answered rather incredulously, as he glanced over at their young daughter toddling around at his feet.  Big, beautiful, brown eyes, and a cute, little upturned nose; she was the perfect blend of her mom and dad. Wispy brown curls shook softly as she played on the the spacious living room floor. The image of his little girl dressed like this young woman was being imprinted upon his mind.

"She loves you and she's going to want to dress like what her daddy thinks is pretty. Is that how you want her to dress?"

"Well, no." he answered in a much softer voice.

No other words were needed.

And it took place, all in the space, of a commercial break.

Blessings,


P.S. Every young woman is someone's daughter, and every young man is someone's son. If we will look at them through the eyes of our Heavenly Father, we will be much more willing to gaze upon their eternal soul, rather than their appearance. "Don't judge by his appearance...The Lord doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." I Samuel 16:7 N.L.T.