Seeing Through the Eyes of Love
By Nancy Hughes
Key Verse:
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Colossians 3:12 (NIV)
Devotion:
I am a school nurse. I love children – all ages and all shapes and sizes. But there are some days that I do not love my job. Today is one of those days. I see the young teenage girl in the hall glancing at me shyly, like she has a precious secret to share. I smile at her to let her know I am here if she needs to talk. I lift up a silent plea: “Lord, if she comes to talk to me, give me wisdom. Let me see her through Your eyes!”
A few minutes later, she walks into my office, a nervous giggle, a smile, and her best friend at her side. She tells me she is pregnant (7 weeks) and that it’s “okay.” I look at this beautiful girl and my heart breaks. Her boyfriend, who is a couple of years older, is thrilled, she says, and her smile lights up her face. I try, gently, to tell her that while I’m glad to hear that he’s “thrilled,” many times after the new wears off, the baby’s father decides that maybe it isn’t as fantastic as he first thought…this baby. But she reassures me that her boyfriend is different.
We talk about how far along the pregnancy is in relation to how the baby is forming: a heartbeat already, cells growing at nonstop speed. I don’t want her to even consider abortion as a possible option. I’ve seen it happen before. The girl and her boyfriend are excited, everything is wonderful. Then he decides that this new experience is not as “exciting” as he thought and he leaves her. She retaliates by deciding that she wants her old life back, with no responsibilities of this baby and no memory of him. So she decides on what seems to be the obvious choice: abortion. Get rid of this problem, quickly and quietly. No one will know. Life will go on.
So we talk about this new life. I do not allow her to say “it” but softly say “your baby” as I explain to her how this little one is forming and what each stage in development means and how her body will respond to everything happening to the baby. She appears to be listening at first but it becomes obvious that she does not understand the reality of what is ahead of her. She interrupts with ideas of names for this boy or girl she is carrying and she informs me of the latest “in” colors for a nursery. Her best friend nods in approval as each detail is shared. I do not share any more information with her. She has not come to me for advice. She just wants to include me in her happiness.
I ask her if her parents know about this pregnancy and she says “No, not yet.” but tells me that her mother will be “just fine” with it all. Inside my heart I feel sobs of emotional pain for the moment her mother finds out. I know if it were me, I would not be “just fine” but would be heartbroken. Angry, perhaps, after the shock of the confession began to wear off. But heartbroken? Oh, most definitely. Not so her mother, she reassures me. I don’t even ask about her father. My husband would instantly want to take the father of this baby to a higher level of understanding concerning his daughter.
We talk about physicians and which one she would be comfortable seeing. She has heard that one doctor is better at an epidural than another. She has no clue what an epidural is but she thinks it has something to do with delivery…
On and on it goes. She just wants me to know about the baby so that if there are any problems, I can take care of her at school. I hug her and tell her to keep me informed each step of the way. “Please let me know what your parents say and let me know how I can help you,” I tell her as she leaves my office, smiling and giggling. I shut the door behind her. And I put my head on my desk and weep.
Our Father calls on us as His “chosen people” to cover those around us with His love and kindness and compassion. There may be times when that may mean sharing His word with someone who is hurting. At other times, it may mean being willing to be quiet and listen with love. May I encourage you, no matter where you are or what your occupation is, to ask our Father to allow you to see His children through eyes of compassion and kindness.
My Prayer for Today:
Father, please give me wisdom to discern when to speak and when to be quiet and listen to people who are making decisions that I may not agree with for their lives. Help me to always be willing to share Your love and compassion with people I meet every day. Help me to be bold when it is Your will but to always speak with Your heart of love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Application Steps:
Look over the directory of persons you work with or, if you are at home, look over your church directory.
Each day, lift up 10 names on your list to our Father. Ask Him to give you an opportunity to either share His love or be quiet and listen with ears of love. Be attentive to His prompting throughout the day.
Reflection Points:
What is your first reaction when someone wants to speak with you? Do you immediately decide to give advice or do you listen with a heart of love?
Are you willing to set aside a few minutes each day to pray for co-workers or church family? If your answer is yes, then what are you waiting for? Start today!
Power Verses:
Proverbs 1:5, “Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance…” (NIV)
Colossians 4:5-6 “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” (NIV)
James 1:19, “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” (NIV)
Copyright © February 23, 2006 – Nancy Hughes. All rights reserved.
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