This is a story I would like to have written as a first hand witnessed account. I was not present when it happened because my teaching job was a necessity at that time in our family's life. My mother-in-law was living with us and caring for our eighteen month old son, Joseph.

I was tired that day, returning home from a day spent with active fourteen year olds who were not nearly as interested in my world history lesson as I was. Adding to that long day was the fact that I was very pregnant with our second child.

Coming through the door, I grabbed up my son onto my swollen belly. I planted a big, hello-mommy's-home kiss on his precious blond forehead as my mother-in-law anxiously voiced, "You won't believe what happened today when Joseph and I went to the grocery store!" Envisioning a mother's nightmare of an overturned cart or a tumbling display due to intrigued little hands, I was most surprised by what she shared next.

"Joseph and I were going down the aisle when we passed a lady that was probably one of the homeliest women I have ever seen. We continued shopping and turning down another aisle, we met her again. Joseph reached out his hand and brushed her face saying, 'Pretty!' The woman's face broke into the widest grin you can imagine. You know, she had a beautiful smile. I guess Joseph saw something more than just her face."

With tears in my eyes, I held my son tightly and smothered him with a few more kisses. It was a simple moment imposed upon an ordinary day, but I asked the Lord that I might be as astute as my little son had been to look at others as God sees us all—through the eyes of love.

Copyright © by Sharon L. Patterson Share