"Look At Me"

I nanny for an amazing two year old, Emi. I don't have children of my own yet so in some ways I feel that I get to "practice" on the kiddos that I have the privilege of watching week after week. One thing I've learned is that if I cannot get a child's eyes and attention, I won't get her heart either; and when she is grown, I don't want her to only remember the rules I had, but I want her life and heart to be impacted by my investment. (This goes for all the kiddos, but this story is specifically about Emi.)

One day a couple weeks back, Emi finished coloring, and moved on to the toy box to find the next fun game we would play. I asked her if she was finished coloring. Without looking at me, she nodded her head. Then I asked her to pick up her crayons before she played with something else. I knew that she had heard me, but she was choosing not to listen and obey. I asked again. Then gently, "Em, look at me." Her head turned from the toy box, and her eyes focused on me. "Em, clean up your crayons." Immediately, she started picking up her crayons. Those simple words. "Look at me. Give me your attention. Focus." As soon as her eyes were on me, she was willing and happy to obey.

I haven't been so happy to obey lately. I heard God whisper, "Julie, look at me." Obedience is much easier when my focus and attention are on Him. When He has my attention, He has my heart too.

Turning my eyes,
Julie

The Fence