"Lord, give me eyes to see." A Hurried Person's Prayer

It was Andrew’s first wedding, at least in his remembrance. He’d slept through a few as an infant, but now, at age two, he was all in. Wide-eyed and curious, he noticed every detail. 


His mother, my daughter, was the matron of honor. His sisters, the flower girls. Daddy was occupied with his six-week-old brother, so Andrew and I were a couple. My job was to keep him happy, entertained, and quiet.

He watched the opening procession carefully, waiting for his mother to walk down the aisle. As each bridesmaid processed, he looked them over carefully. 

“Is that Mommy?” I asked. 

“Mo.” 

“How about that lady?” 

“Mo.” 

When his mother appeared, his face split into a toothy grin. “Der Mommy. Pretty!” Then he noticed her bouquet. “Fwowers!” 

“Aren’t they pretty?” I said. He nodded enthusiastically. 

Next came his sisters, solemn and angelic in their white tulle dresses, dutifully scattering paper hearts on the damp grass. “Uh-oh,” Andrew said, noticing the “litter” they’d left behind. 

After all had taken their places and the officiate began to speak, Andrew added his commentary to the man’s words. 

“Birds!” he said, pointing to the trees above us. “Squirrel?” he asked, noticing a movement in the tree tops. In his quiet-but-not-so-quiet voice, he pointed out an airplane, a helicopter, and a “weaf.” 

Fearing that he might be distracting the other guests, I gathered him up and slipped from the last row. We stood at a distance at the back of the garden. 

“Wook! Gigi,” Andrew said. Oak trees made a canopy overhead, and fat acorns dotted the ground. Like a gambler at a slot machine, he gathered his treasure and stuffed his pockets full. 

He wandered behind a bush, then came running back. Grabbing my hand and tugging, he pulled me toward the bush. “Gigi, come!” Cautious about what he’d discovered, I stepped gingerly between the shrubs. Andrew’s idea of “interesting” is vastly different from his sisters’. Bugs, rocks, and frogs top his list of fascinating specimens. 

But not this time. 

“Wook!” he said with a flourish. “Fwowers!” 

Sure enough, he’d found a bush covered in pink blossoms much like the bouquet his mommy had carried down the aisle a few minutes earlier. “Pretty,” he declared with a smile, and I agreed. 

Reflecting on the day, I thanked God for the opportunity to see the world through Andrew’s eyes. Without his help, I’d have missed the wonder of the afternoon. His invitation to slow down, look closely, and ponder was a precious gift I’ll not soon forget. 

Ever wonder how much we miss because we don’t stop long enough to see? 

Solomon, the wise man of Israel, declared, “He has made everything beautiful in his time,” (Ecclesiastes 3:11), but we can only appreciate this beauty if we stop and look. 

Father, help us slow down, look closely, and ponder deeply. Enable us to see the wonder and beauty of your creation. Lift our hearts in praise to you, the Creator of it all. May we never be so busy that we fail to recognize your fingerprints on our world. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. 

Now it’s your turn. Do you struggle with being so busy that you fail to notice the simple things? What helps you slow down and appreciate God’s creation? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts. If you’re reading by email, CLICK HERE to visit Hungry for God online and leave a comment.

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