Open the Eyes of my Heart

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord

Open the eyes of my heart

I want to see You

I want to see You

To see You high and lifted up

Shinin' in the light of Your glory

Pour out Your power and love

As we sing holy, holy, holy 

(Michael W. Smith)

I thought I knew everything about her -- the woman who chose life even though she would have to dress me in pink when her heart was set on blue. I knew her father had tuberculosis (He lived in a sanatorium during many of Mom's early years). I knew she met my dad in a one-room schoolhouse. I knew she was voted best dressed of her senior class (even though her mother remade old clothes).  I knew her dad got a day's pass to give her away at her wedding. I even knew the miracle drug for tuberculosis gave my Papa back his life soon afterward.

I thought I knew everything about my mother, but I found out this week that I didn't. I knew we had Cosmo, our Bouvier des Flandres -- but I didn't know we had him because Jackie Kennedy (as in First Lady) loved them. 

I knew my mother worked for a family before she was married, and whatever they wanted, she had to do -- even it meant baking a cake at midnight. But what I didn't know was that the husband was a veterinarian and Mom helped him in the clinic in the basement. Once she monitored a dog's blood pressure during surgery when they found out he had cancer; how heartbreaking it was when the elderly couple cried because he had been like a child to them. 

How did I miss these things? I knew much of her story -- she was at a fresh air camp when the sirens blew announcing the end of the war. I knew she was in a play when my dad told his best friend, "That's the girl I'm going to marry." But our visit this week showed me there's still more to learn. 

Just like with my God. I've been learning about Him since I was born. Through my earthly father I learned how loving and kind He is. How He protects and wants the best for me. As I grew older I learned of God's sovereignty; that He is ever-present, all-knowing, and all-powerful.

And when I feel like I know all about God, I learn something new. Each time when I open the Word, I discover new treasures. This week I read in Deuteronomy: 

God, on his part, will keep the covenant of loyal love that he made with your ancestors:

He will love you,

He will bless you,

He will increase you.

He will bless the babies from your womb and the harvest of grain, new wine, and oil from your fields; he’ll bless the calves from your herds and lambs from your flocks in the country he promised your ancestors that he’d give you. You’ll be blessed beyond all other peoples.

My head held the knowledge, but this week, reading these words, I was struck by how very much God loves me -- not because of me, but because of His loyal love and covenant He made with my ancestors. Pure grace. I didn't even ask for it.

I have a feeling I will be learning about my God until the day I cease breathing. Each day as I listen to Him through creation, in the quiet places, and between the covers of His Word, I'll be learning more about His righteousness, faithfulness, and holiness...and more, more, more.

Modest Monday

Soli Deo Gloria

Playdates with God

Unite

Just Write

The Art of Homemaking Mondays

Spiritual Sundays