The Best Thing You Can Borrow Today
She was wiggly-giggly- excited to watch her first parade. She’d packed her little pink blanket to sit on and her favorite snacks to munch. She’d brought her teddy bear for squeezing and she’d worn her sparkly shoes for dancing.
She’d never seen a decorated float or a marching band, an old fashioned fire truck or a candy-tossing clown. But the buzz of excitement in the air was contagious, and she squirmed with expectant glee as we waited for the promenade to begin.
But when the band leading the parade finally turned the corner and headed down the street, our daughter’s vision didn’t match her expectation. From her comfortable seat on that little pink blanket, our four-year-old could see the crowd clapping to the beat of the bass drum, but she couldn’t spy the baton twirlers spinning gracefully to the metered melody. She could see the fat white clouds dangling lazily above her head, but she couldn’t spot the gleaming bells of the tubas or the silvering shimmer of the flutes.
As the band drew near with stately steps, our preschooler stood on her tiptoes and craned her neck. But, her view was blocked by the swell of cheering spectators who had leaped to their feet to applaud the oncoming entourage.
Suddenly, our daughter’s gleeful anticipation gave way to unfiltered frustration. Her slender shoulders sagged. Her pink pouted. And her dancing feet stomped.
“I don’t see what’s so great about parades,” she complained as she tucked her teddy bear under her arm and swatted at the stray tear zig-zagging down her cheek. “I just wanna go home.”
I bent low to offer a response above the roar, but before I uttered a word, our discouraged one’s gaze shifted from the boisterous crowd before her to the man who stood beside her.
She watched as he responded to the gala on the street with a whoop and a holler, a smile and applause. With a little leap, she abandoned her post on the pink blanket and narrowed the gap between them.
Then she wrapped her arms around his knees and twined her slender frame to his towering stature. “Daddy!” she cried “I want to see what you see!”
With strong hands and a gentle touch, my husband swooped up our preschooler and planted her on his shoulders. And in an instant, her perspective changed.
Suddenly, our girl could see the activity on the street with clear vision. From her perch on her Daddy’s shoulders, she realized the long-awaited parade was more than a cacophony of noise. It was a lively cortege of music and merriment, amusement and song.
And as our daughter surveyed the scene with wide-eyed wonder, her glower gave way to a grin. She leaned close to her father and exclaimed, ”I can just see better when I borrow your eyes!”
There was no parade passing by my window this morning as I sat with my prayer journal in the dim light of dawn. But there was a surge of frustration rising in my soul; an ache of disappointment sitting heavy on my heart.
As I stared at my scribbles and scrawl, all I could see was a string of unanswered prayers—circumstances that look impossible; and rifts that feel unfixable; challenges that appear insurmountable and people who seem unchangeable. And I swatted at the tears that were seeping from my eyes.
But as I opened my Bible to spend time with the Lord, I pictured my little girl drawing near to her Daddy on that long ago day. And I remembered my daughter’s simple request.
And with a humble heart and whisper of faith, I made her child-like declaration my personal proclamation.
“Father, I want to see what you see!” I whispered as I began to read.
And just as my daughter’s perspective once changed when she perched on her Daddy’s shoulders, so my vision shifted as I sat with my Heavenly Father on the pages of His Word.
Those unanswered prayers looked different when I peered at them through the eternal eyes of a loving God.
That impossible circumstances suddenly looked a little more like a stage set for a miracle.
That unfixable rift resembled an opportunity for healing.
That insurmountable challenge appeared to be an invitation to grow.
And the unchangeable people looked like hurting humans in need of grace.
As I closed my Bible, my heart was lighter and my hope was stronger.
But best of all, my vision was clearer.
Because a little girl who once perched on her Daddy’s shoulders taught me something I’ll never forget—
We can just see better when we borrow our Father’s eyes.
Thanks for spending time here today! I hope you’ll be encouraged as you linger in this place. If it’s your first time visiting, leave me a note in the comments and introduce yourself. And if you’re an old friend, welcome back! I’d love to hear from you, too. Tell me how we first met and let me know how I can pray for you.
You can also find more encouragement at Proverbs 31. Today, I’m there sharing a devotion about a little girl who wanted my eyes and what I’m learning about the difference between watching and seeing.
Finally, if you need help shifting your gaze, I hope you’ll grab this free decorative printable of Hebrews 12:2a and hang it up as a reminder to fix your eyes on Jesus.
Until next time—
Hi Alicia,
This is my first time here! Oh what a blessing I’ve recieved from this. It reminds me to see myself and others thru my Fathers eyes.
Through the last year or so, it seems as though I had put on blinders. With not being able to fellowship in person I’ve really lost focus!
Thank you so much, I’m so happy that I’m reminded to take of the blinders and see with JESUS eyes!,
Good morning Alicia, this was my first time visiting your website but not my first time reading your devotions. I read Proverbs 31 everyday and look forward to reading your devotions. I needed to read this one today, it spoke volumes to me. I need to see what God sees because my eyes become cloudy and my perspective becomes a little off and I need to trust that his word is true (Proverbs 31 devotion). I pray one day I get to meet you face to face but until then, God bless and keep trusting his word.
This was beautiful. Words are so powerful. My sulky mood has instantly changed to that of hope and gratitude. Thank you Alicia. May your gift continue to bless you and others around you in Jesus Name.
Thank you for your words of blessing:) I sure love it when God uses a few well-timed words to flip our moods around:) I’ve been there so many times myself. Happy to know He used my scribbles to give you that gift today!
Alicia I love the way you share a story as well. Very encouraging and thoughtful… you remind me to take a pause… to see anew! Thank you ✨
Thank you, Debra! So glad you took time to linger here and be encouraged.
Alicia, I appreciate your writing style. I’m new here and am hoping to find my niche and style. But I also want to see the world, especially today’s world, from my Father’s shoulders. Thank you for providing that illustration.
Linda
Linda, WELCOME! I’m delighted to meet you. I am praying two things for you today– asking the Lord to help you as you find your writing niche. May your voice resound in the place where your words are needed. And may you have eyes to the world as Jesus does:) Blessings-
Thanks for sharing this inspiring testament. Indeed, we see life in a completely new perspective through the eyes of the Lord. Blessings to you Alicia.
Thank you 🙂
“I wanna see what you see” is a perfect quote for today’s world. If only we all could put on our Jesus glasses and look at like through the eyes of grace! What a beautiful story, so well written, Thank you so much for sharing. I am going to repost it on my FB page.
Thanks for sharing my scribbles, Jan! I continue to echo that prayer each day. Oh, that we might see through the eyes of Jesus!
Hello!!
I “met” you through Proverbs 31…years ago and have followed all these years…you are one of my favorites to read 😊
Awww, Sara, I’m so glad we “met” through P31. Thanks for taking time to read what I write. And for encouraging me with YOUR words today:)
I met you on Proverbs 31. Thank you for sharing.
Beth, I’m so glad P31 connected us. Thanks for taking a moment to connect here today.
Alicia I first met you on Proverbs 31. I noticed your “Dutch” last name. I too have a Dutch last name.
I love your writing style that draws a reader into the world your writing about. I love simple comparisons that are so real and those that we see on a daily basis. Those touch my heart the most. I loved “ seeing through her daddy’s eyes”. I tend to think a person I’m praying for should be growing in their Christian walk faster or that my prayers aren’t making any difference. But when I look through our Fathers eyes and know he has a plan and His time is always right, it eases my heart. The parade is approaching and I look with anticipation for it!
Hi, Alleen! I’m so glad we met through P31. And you are right about the Dutch last name 🙂 We’ve definitely got something in common. Thanks for the amazing feedback. I love hearing what draws my readers in and what ministers to their hearts. Truly appreciate your taking time to share that with me. And I sure understand what you’re saying about prayer. I, too, am quick to wonder if my prayers are even making a difference. I so often have to remind myself that God is doing more than what my eyes can see and His timing rarely matches my pining! We’ll keep looking for that parade 🙂
Alicia, I agree with comments above. You are my favorite Proverbs 31 writer. Love your writing and how you take every day experiences and make spiritual application.
Pat, THANK YOU:) Your words make me smile. I’m so grateful for your encouragement.
I asked to see the world as Jesus a few years ago. And slowly the Lord opened my eyes to see a bit of what He sees. A lot of hurting people and sadness how we treat our beautiful Earth. I’m a single mom that adopted a little girl from Ethiopia 11 years ago. I’m so blessed by her and I never understood how much God loves and wants to bless us until she came into my life.
Toni, I appreciate your testimony of learning to see what Jesus sees–in particular, the word “slowly.” You reminded me that Jesus is faithful to give us His vision but it doesn’t always happen overnight. I’m learning it’s a very different perspective when we peer through his eyes.And it’s worth the effort and the process. I also love how God is using your daughter from Ethiopia to show you more of His heart. What a gift! Many blessings to you as you continue to parent your precious girl.
Alicia, I appreciate the way you write combining the ordinary things of life with spiritual insight. You have lifted my heart and my “seeing” today.
Thank you,
Patsy R.
Thank you, Patsy. I’m so glad my story buoyed your heart and shifted your perspective today. Thanks for connecting with me here.
I first met you at Proverbs 31 on the pages of Encouragement for Today. I was immediately impressed with your wordcraft. You use the most amazing descriptions to enhance Bible truths. Whenever I see your byline, I get ready for a fantastic foray into a world of healing and peace, with laughter and tears. I love the way you make us smile and then weep and then send the zinger right into our now opened hearts. I would love to hear you speak someday. I live in New England and we rarely have opportunities like that here, but I will keep watching and even try to promote an event featuring you as Guest Speaker!!! Let’s pray on that.
Wow, Eleanor! Thank you for these beautiful words of encouragement. You’ve made me smile today:) And, I would absolutely love to meet you someday at a speaking event. I’m going to join you in praying towards that end!
Yes Lord, let me be willing to see the world and your people the way you see them. Soften my heart to the world around me. Amen.
Yes and amen, Mandi 🙂
Thank you for this! I want to see more from God’s perspective.
I do, too, Candis! Let’s pray for His eyes.
Hello. I’m new here. Over the last several years I had stepped away from God & Jesus. I had let my faith falter & almost completely disappear.
So much has happened during that time. I have come to the realization that my life can only get better if I find God again. That I can only change my situation, for the better, with the help of our Savior, Jesus Christ & or Heavenly Father, God.
So now, I am doing everything I possibly can to make God my #1 priority.
I love reading your articles. They help tremendously! Thank you!
Sincerely,
Shellene G.
Shellene, Welcome! Thank you for taking a moment to share a glimpse into your journey. I’m so thankful you are seeking Jesus again with hope and expectation. I love His promise in Matthew 6:33 that if we seek Him first, He will take care of the rest of our needs. “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” I’m praying right now for you–asking the Holy Spirit to give you the energy and the desire to keep pursuing Jesus first and enjoying His presence. Thank you for introducing yourself.