Eyes That See Me

I always wanted to know what kind of person brings veggies to a reception and hover over the veggie tray like it was gold. Last night my youngest son had a special awards ceremony in the organization that he is in. We all were asked to bring something so that combined we could have a great reception afterwards.

Unlike a lot of the mothers, I am off on Mondays and this afforded me the opportunity to really jazz my goodies offering for the table. As others arrive and began to place their offerings on the table I noticed that we had a buffet of chips and a lot of store bought cookies. Not that this was bad, I just wished that there was more of a variety since I was depending on this to be dinner for my family. Well my wish came true. In comes a mom who must have just gotten a new piece of updated summer selection Tupperware.

I watched as she and her daughter sashayed in. Daughter holding tooth picks and the mother this pristine piece of white plastic secured by a clear domed lid. It has been a long time since I've seen a person so proud of the fact that they brought an item and was very pleased with the container. Almost a love relationship gone crushing bad. Not only did this mom take a few minutes to choose the perfect place on the table to place her container, she commenced to open it up and put toothpicks into the cheese cubes. She turned to one of the other parents that had brought in her offering and said "this is going to be so good".

I really didn't know how to process what I was witnessing. Was I calling this woman a bonafide "Hover". Or was I witnessing a person who for the first time had brought an item that she thought was worthy to be offered based off of her cooking skill level. Maybe, just maybe, this woman had not been able to participate in the past and this was her first opportunity. It could be that her veggie dip was an extremely excellent recipe and she was really excited about others trying it.

I said all that to say this. I walked away feeling pretty a shamed of myself for prejudging this lady without knowing her story, background or anything substantial. I measured her selection to the time and effort I put into mine. I turned my nose up at something that had been offered to me free of charge and was truly a gift and from the heart. I didn't know this mom nor did I take the opportunity to get to know her. Yet I added to her story with my own prejudices and preconceptions. I wrote an ending to something that I had no business writing.

My facial expression toward her did not exhibit Christ nor did any of the ladies whom I stood with. I felt horrible. Are you guilty too? Let's face it we all do it and laugh about it. Tell me, how many times has someone sized you up before knowing anything about you? After I had checked myself, I made it priority after the ceremony to introduce myself to this mom and asked about her tray of veggies and dip.

She began her story by touching my arm and smiling. I looked into her beautiful gray eyes and I could tell she was a woman living and enjoying life to the fullest. I loved her story surrounding her recipe and container. I especially loved how her daughter would finish her sentences and the admiration they had for each other. Wow. What a great encounter I would have missed if I hadn't allowed the Holy Spirit to check me.

Well as the night went on her tray of veggies disappeared and the mom came and retrieved her container. As she left she made it a point to come over to me and gave me a gentle hug saying softly in my ear, "How are you daughter of God? God wants you to know He sees what you did tonight". Then she left with a smile and a wave. Totally at a lost for words and breath, I stood there. Yes, thankful for so many reasons but mostly because forgiveness came immediately.

So many times it's easy to conform to what others are thinking and doing. It's easy to get caught up on your own prejudices. Thank you Father for keeping a mirror before me. Especially when you allow me to see myself in the eyes of others.