Can I see?
“Can I see?”, a question I get asked quite often by my sweet 3 year old. The most recent of which occurred on the way to story time this morning. We had some overdue library books to return and Caleb asked me if we remembered to bring them. I told him we had and that they were in the front seat by me. To which he replied, “Can I see?” I explained to him that I was driving, but when I came to a stopping point I held them up so he could see from the backseat and he was satisfied. Mom had indeed told him the truth. The library books sat in the front seat waiting to be returned. And this got me thinking about the many times he asks this question. Most often it has to do with food (specifically chips) when I tell him the bag is empty or there are no more he asks to see as if we are some how not being honest with him or dare I say keeping some for ourselves? No one told him ask this question. He came up with him all on his own and I think that has something to do with the intrinsic idea of faith. Does he take us at our word?
As a follower of Christ, I have been so careful to be true to my word with my children because I know how I parent will affect their view of God, the Father and His Word. Sometimes I mess up, but for the most part if I say something, to the best of my ability, I follow through. I want them to know they can trust me, and that what I say will happen. So I stop and think before I promise something, and if I say I will read a certain book after nap time for instance, you better believe Caleb remembers. As soon as he wakes up he asks for that book. When Caleb first asked me the question, “Can I see?”, I have to admit I was a little hurt. How could he not believe me? I am his Mom! Have I lied to him before? Does he think I am holding out on him? And this morning when Caleb asked me the question I felt God whisper in my soul….this is how I feel when you ask me, “Can I see?”. You aren’t trusting me. You are not taking me at my Word.
One of my most favorite accounts in Scripture is of a royal official who comes to Jesus pleading with Him to heal His son. When Jesus tells him his son is healed, the man just takes Him at His Word and leaves. What faith that man had!
So Jesus said to him, ‘Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe’. The official said to him, ‘Sir come down before my child dies’. Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your son will live.’ The man BELIEVED the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, ‘Your son will live. ‘ And He himself believed, and all of his household. John 4:48-53
Oh, how I long to be one who takes Him at His word and leaves.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
Matthew 5:8
