1-2-3, eyes on me

I've blogged about this saying before... but it was in a different context. This morning it didn't occur to me as God saying it to me, but instead as me saying it to myself... Here's what I mean:

1-2-3, eyes on ME!

For whatever reason, the concept I have been processing lately is that I can only CONTROL my own self... my own actions... my own words... my own heart. And because of that my eyes should only focus on my sin... my shortcomings... my screw ups... the changes I need to make.

I guess this blog post could come off as a bit self-centered, but I guess I'm starting to believe that it is okay to be self-centered when "judging". It is okay to be self-centered when playing detective in search of sin.

Last year my children were having an all out war about some VERY important issue such as who's fault the argument was or what that person did with the Power Rangers toy to cause them to ___________.  I launched off on one of my "lectures" that ended up as some of the wisest words that have EVER come out of my mouth. I frequently reuse the words... I hear my kids reusing them... I even hear Auntie Marge saying them to herself.  Here's kinda how it went down:

I told them all to keep your eyes inside your own fence. I went on to say they are looking over their fences into their brother or sister's yard and pointing out the weeds growing there when their own yards are overgrown, in need of some weed killer and desperately needing a little water. I took a LONG time to explain this concept. Telling them I didn't want to hear them saying, "But he said ---" or "He did it first!"  I want them to STOP and keep your eyes inside your own fence and see what THEY did... see what THEY need to change... see what THEY said....

Too often I think we get caught up in looking down our nose at the sin of another person, completely forgetting we are not so perfect either. Or when we are hurt we focus on what the other person "did first" forgetting we can only control how we respond to what they did.  I guess I'm just really trying HARD to remember that in ALL situations of blame, sin, fault... I am WAY better off if I focus on what I did, what I can do, what I should change instead of worrying about the other person.

So this morning I'm saying to myself, "1-2-3 eyes on ME" to remind myself, keep your eyes inside your own fence, Jami!  You've got a lot of weeds to pull, spots to water, and trimming that could be done!

Hope this blessed you just a little bit.

World War 3....

My kiddos have been at each other’s throats most of the morning. He spilled my juice! That wasn’t his juice it was Hannah’s! Give me back those drumsticks! As a mom, I just want the fighting to STOP! It breaks my heart and hurts my head. As a person, I see validity in the grievances listed by all sides. I understand that a little sister who CONSTANTLY turns the television off in the middle of your program can be irritating, but I equally understand that being choked by your brother can be a little grievous too. Both sides have valid points to argue, but (mostly because of my wicked headache) I just wish they could find a way to get along. On a more realistic level, I wish they would remember to just let ME solve their disputes. I find myself CONSTANTLY saying, “Do NOT take matters into your own hands!” I remind them that when Hannah does something to them if they come to me for help then only Hannah gets in trouble, but if they take matters into their own hands and deal with the matter themselves, then they will get into trouble too.
I bet God feels that way about us too. When he looks at all our warring and fighting and fussing and complaining, I bet He recognizes the validity of our grievances. He knows that it hurts to be lied to. He recognizes that being rejected does not feel good. He knows full well how hard it is to forgive someone over and over and over again for the same exact thing. He knows that it is irritating to have to relate to filthy rotten sinners who just cannot seem to stop sinning. But I bet He too dreams of a day when we will all just get along, and I know that He wants to say to us, “Do NOT take matters into your own hands!” He wants us to come to Him when someone sins against us. He wants us to refrain from retaliation. He wants us to let Him deliver the consequences.
When my kids were in public school here in Franklin, their teachers often said, “1-2-3 eyes on me!” to get control of the class that had dissolved into chatting or horseplay. I envision God saying the same to us. When we are bickering, gossiping, or even just obsessing about other people, I think He is standing there saying to us, "Get your eyes off of that and onto me." So the next time someone hurts you or sins against you in some way, instead of fighting back stop and listen, and see if you can hear it: “1-2-3 eyes on Me!”