22nd Sept - Through Their Eyes

     Shared experiences is what really makes memories, we all have scores of memories from our past, how many of yours include only you? Sure we've all had special times on our own but most likely your fondest memories include other people too, whether that be family members, friends, co-workers etc...

     Memories are made when we share an experience, I was reminded of this yesterday when Rebecca and I were pushing our girls in side-by-side swings at a park in a town we were strolling through. She said, 'it's great to look through their eyes' that statement struck me. We have been to numerous towns, villages and cities and now with two little ones who we are either pushing, carrying, holding the hand of or attempting to corral going to these places is a whole new experience. Sure we have had a wonderful time together but for 17 years it was her and I, of course friends too but often on our own traversing through shops, getting a drink at a cafe, and visiting touristy sites. Now that has all changed.

     We still love popping into shops, having a browse around although much of what we see are ideas of what our oldest would like to have or what our youngest has picked up off a shop shelf and is now playing with in her buggy. If we are shopping for household goods its a brief glance as we swiftly move to the next aisle since the girls are quite uninterested in the colour of a basket or which brand of toothpaste we should get. Shopping has taken on a different perspective, one that is through their eyes, what might they like, which cartoon themed yoghurt would be best, what colour hair barettes, these are not an issue that we've faced before.

     It is really exciting to see through their eyes, practically everything is new. Whether that be the surprise of the rushing river yesterday along the path we walked or the numerous dogs we passed each one drawing a 'woof woof' from our youngest. Would I normally notice the difference in the speed of the water or the fact another dog trotted our way probably not, but yesterday I did. Would we take note of the colour of the leaves on the many trees as we stopped for a short snack. Would we stop for a short snack or just eat while we went? Would we take the time to gaze at the vegetation around us, for that matter would we even go on that walk, maybe not. We find ourselves heading to parks, on walks, watching children's DVD's, and building dog parks and cat houses out of duplo, to be honest they look the same to us but not them.

     Have you tried watching a film like Underdog or the Lady and Tramp with a three year old, they find 'scary' parts that wouldn't even make me flinch. They can see aspects of characters that we are invisible to us. Right now I'm looking over at our youngest who's trapesing around our front room with sunglasses on just because they were they to be picked up. All the while attempting with everything within her abilities to press any key on the computer. What does she see through her eyes? A darkened room surely, but also a room full of endless possibilities. Just to keep you abreast of what is going on she is now poking me in the eye with a Tombliboo (character from In the Night Garden), do you know how hard it is to type with a 17 month old cradled in your arms while she pokes you in the eye?

     Their eyes see much more than ours do, in our front room we see a huge pile of toys. What do they see, a never-ending well of playing with this and picking up that, dropping a plastic horse to pick up a book or a pretend stethoscope. One minute playing doctor, the next watching a DVD, then peekaboo and to finish off the five minutes an attempt at putting on a shoe. So much of what they see is new, it needs to be explored and handled. Imagine if we took time to explore what we saw around us, if I picked up the newspaper and made myself aware of the days news, or if I read that book I have been intending to read.

Speaking of new, each night we read a couple of stories followed by stories from our children's Bibles. All of the amazing stories from Adam and Eve, Abraham, Moses, Daniel to Jesus they are all new, from creation to the flood, Jonah in the whale to the Christmas story. What do they see in these stories? From the looks on their eyes wonderment and interest. I remember being a little boy and hearing the extraordinary stories read to me by my dad before bed or the miraculous stories of missionaries from the around the world at children's church. It's amazing how quickly children pick up on the stories of the Bible and the power of the gospel. What a treasure it is to finish off our days by praying together right before going to bed. I think that Rebecca and I are learning more about everything around us as we look through their eyes.