Our new little man sometimes has an issue with eye control. He’ll be staring right at you, then suddenly one or both of his eyes will wander, usually to the inner corner, leaving him cross-eyed. Certainly, this is very normal for newborns. Everything is still working the kinks out and the eyes are no exception.

This morning, though, I was watching him do it, while thinking about something his oldest sister had told me last night. She was reading a book to me, which had a character in it named Keira. She had trouble sounding it out, and I told her it was “Kee-ra.” She said, “Oh! Like Shakira, the singer!” When I told her she was right, she launched into a very animated conversation explaining a dance she’d seen Shakira do, which apparently involved “spinning breasts” (her words). Then she stood up to demonstrate, as best as a flat-chested six-year-old can.

Part of the problem with having a child split time between two parents is that neither parent has control over what the child sees or experiences while they’re out of their care. But even if a child is with both their parents full time, they still have very little control when that child is away from them. Every child, regardless of upbringing or family status, is exposed to stuff we can’t control. Their eyes see unbelievable things for which they are not prepared to process. And you know what?

So are ours.

We might be able to process what we see, but we shouldn’t actually be doing it. Our eyes wander more than my grandson’s. Certainly they are assaulted on a daily basis by the dregs and fall out of a broken world, grabbing and gnawing at our baser instincts, but we have the ability to look away, and the knowledge to know we should. Looking is not good for us, because it can lead to action. It can start us down a path that most often ends badly, slamming us into a brick wall like an out-of-control vehicle at high speed.

Fortunately for us, there is a perfect focus for our eyes to keep them from wandering, and It’s pure bright light stands sure at the end of the right path, always leading us the right way. I’m thankful It never waivers or flickers or or needs a light bulb change.

Maybe while we’re working on our focus, we can grab a child or two and point them toward the Light, too. After all, there’s merit in ‘be careful little eyes what you see.’

“I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.” Psalm 101:3 ESV

“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light…” Matthew 6:22 ESV

“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” Philippians 4:8 NASB

“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” Psalm 119:105 NLT