Oh Be Careful Little Eyes What You See..

We've all heard this song in Sunday School as children
"Oh be careful little eyes what you see,
Oh be careful little eyes what you see.
For the Father up above is looking down in love,
So be careful little eyes what you see."

Of course I've always been taught this meant to watch what you look at. To not look upon vulgar or awful things. Whatever we look at - if we feed our lust - lust grows but if we feed our spirit man with the things of God - our spirit grows. So feed the thing you want to grow.

Yesterday I was getting ready to meet a friend and I heard this line of the familiar Sunday School song in my head. I almost dismissed it and went on when the "Oh be careful little eyes what YOU see" was the way I suddenly heard the song. It hit me. How DO I see things? I usually see things from my perspective and often with my expectations in mind. That's pretty normal but I have come to realize that just because it is 'normal' to think/do things a certain way doesn't necessarily mean it is beneficial.

I am learning that seeing things clearly is a gift. Many times I have 'seen' awkward moments and/or offensive moments and quickly assessed the situation and reacted - normally my perspective was deceived and I was not seeing what was true. I'm learning how much better to truly look at the whole picture and see what HE sees. He sees what is noble and true and of a good report. He does not see the issues of life as I do.

It's also possible to experience a situation now and evaluate it based on experiences in the past. So, we see a pattern or a familiar source of pain and we are often mistreated again in that area repeatedly. We fall into a trap of looking at our wound and jump into the "Why me? Why is this thing always a source of pain to me? Why am I always let down in this area?". What that does is dig up an old wound that we then cause to become infected again. (It causes us to limp in that area again until our footing becomes more sured on our lie that we must not trust again or we must take care of self.) Then it is a sore spot again, and we need TLC in that area again, and now our foundation is based on a lie in regards to any future scenarios that may cross our paths.

I've recently understood a few things that were once unclear to my finite mind. When I fell Saturday and injured my foot I was having a few bad days. I can clearly see a familiar pattern. I have had a few bad days before (who hasn't?), then WHAM something 'unrelated' happens and it sends me spiraling into a pity party of 'WHY ME?' again. When this incident occurred with my foot something was different. I know God has been giving me MUCH revelation lately but I think I FINALLY have ears to hear and eyes to see. I've asked MANY times to see and hear but never really tried seeing and hearing first. This time I asked, and I am trying to see and hear, and HE IS showing me what He wants me to see and sharing truth with me! What a delightful change!!!! After I fell Saturday, I sat there and composed myself and thought about the moment. I waited to stand when the awful pain ended and was relieved to find that my foot was not broken! Whew! That's a relief!

Over the last few days the entire experience of the bad days plus the fall has been on my mind. I knew something was unusual in it all and I wanted to clearly see what HE would have me see in all this. I clearly see how in the past I've been primed for an incident like this and sure enough - I would have a big unexpected WHAM come my way and it would knock me down (figuratively). This time I was literally knocked down. After being figuratively knocked down, my pattern was to fall into the pit of "WHY ME?" Pity party central would erupt and so would my temper - there was a new wall built and I would withdraw and hide out in hopes of never having THAT happen again.

This time was SO different. SO unlike my natural reaction. I sat there and thought about the moment, stood up and went on. I see how I've grown much stronger as a result of this new reaction. I see that in the past my weakness (fear of being hurt or misunderstood) was my first instinct and now I am learning to follow my strength (trusting Him to be near in ALL situations) instead. I'm growing because I am willing to change my habits and I am letting Him show me truth. As the song mentions "For the Father up above is looking down in LOVE", His view is one of love and compassion. His view is of truth. He sees us in our pain and HE wants to apply the ointment of truth and love to our hurt. When we self medicate instead we say "I don't need you, I've got this." and we remain bound to our weaknesses.

I now see how much stronger I feel even in the pain. I have noticed that since I injured my right foot (right represents government and our source of strength) that my entire body is compensating for the injury. My back is tight, my left leg is achy, my hips ache, my shoulders ache, and of course... my right leg throbs. My whole body is compensating and balancing for this injury. It is changing me physically but mostly spiritually. I realize growing hurts and it takes intention. It doesn't happen overnight. Today I see a pattern of weakness broken in me, I did not fall into the trap again! I clearly see the benefit of taking in the moment and trying to see what is really going on around me. My instinct of pity has left me weak and unfulfilled; but this moment of seeing has brought much strength and joy. Every throb of pain and every uncomfortable muscle is a CLEAR signal to me that I have grown and I am becoming more balanced. I am balancing ON HIM and not on me. My weaknesses are being stifled and growth is the fruit! What a treat!

Matthew 6:22 "The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is sound, your entire body will be full of light."