Through the Eyes of Love

"I thought about the whole notion of "reproduction," and what it really means to replicate yourself. Is it merely about the passing on of eyes and chins and hair color? Or is it, rather, the replication of the heart? Do we leave a bigger mark by passing on our genes, or our thoughts?"

~ Shannon Woodward, author of

Inconceivable: Finding Peace in the Midst of Infertility ~

We arrived late for worship service yesterday...nothing new for us, we drive 25 miles to get to church and sometimes it just takes a few minutes longer to get there...we were greeted by beautiful music and a congregation worshipping with their voices.

We haven't been attending this fellowship for very many months and are still getting used to the style, the new faces, a different style of preaching etc etc. There are so so many young families...what a blessing! When the children are excused for children's church there is a mass exodus of children...almost a quarter of the congregation is in grade 5 or under...isn't that wonderful?!?! Being typical grandparents we love to watch as they rush up the aisles, smiling and buzzing with excitement. WOW! our hearts just fill with the potential that this next generation has to offer.

Anyway...back to arriving late...we sat about 2/3 of the way towards the back, there were plenty of empty seats behind us and some infront of us as well (the church is in an old movie theater that has been remodeled but the theater seats are still there, it is wonderful!). Shortly after we arrived a young daddy worked his way into the row ahead of us carrying an infant seat with a precious baby inside (4-5 wks old??). Baby was sound asleep. This daddy unfastened the baby and gently lifted him out, craddling him in his arms, wrapping a blanket around this bundle of love. For the next 5 or so minutes this daddy sang his heart out ~ never once taking his eyes off this child, this gift. A few minutes later, maybe 6-8 minutes....enter momma...daddy gently handed the gift to momma who also joined in with the congregational singing, and like daddy she did not take her eyes off this precious bundle.

Ed and I both were transfixed by the love, devotion and commitment these two parents were displaying. (ok, yes I will confess, we were both overwhelmed with emotion and each shed a few tears). Baby slept through most of the service. Daddy held an open Bible. Momma held the baby. Only two times did we see either parent take their eyes off that baby. (I know because I could not take my eyes off of them!)

A few minutes before the service was over baby started to wake, squirming around a bit, making those precious squeaky noises that only a newborn can make. Daddy closed his Bible, put his arm around momma's shoulders and both gazed at that baby. When baby finally opened his eyes, the parents moved as if one leaning closer to his face. Their faces were the first faces he saw.

I felt as if I had attended two separate, and yet totally connected, worship services.

Parents, train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it.

~~~ Proverbs 22:6~~~