When you thought I wasn't looking.....

I was listening to our Christian radio station yesterday and Leslie Neese, one of the morning talk show hosts, read this poem below. It brought tears to my eyes as I thought of my precious girls and what an awesome God-given responsibility they are to me. As their mother, I want nothing more than for them to be all that God wants them to be. And to think I have a part to play in that...to teach their little hearts and minds and help them grow into great women of God. It's so neat because I already see how our Heavenly Father is drawing Emma in - asking and wanting to know more each and every day. And to hear her say "I love Jesus" just out of the blue just melts my heart (and I'm sure His too). Even though parenting can be frustrating at times, I need to step back more often and truly appreciate what a beautiful work God is doing in Emma & Aubrey.

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WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING

(Written by a former child)

A message every adult should read, because children

are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my

first painting on the refrigerator,

and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you feed a

stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my

favorite cake for me and I learned that the little things can be the

special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I heard you say a

prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always talk to and I

learned to trust in God.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make a

meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I

learned that we all have to help take care of each

other.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of

your time and money to help people who had nothing and

I learned that those who have something should give to

those who don't.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you take

care of our house and everyone in it

and I learned we have to take care of what we are

given.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you

handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't

feel good and I learned that I would have to be

responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come

from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things hurt

but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you

cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I learned most of

life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and

productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and

wanted to say,

"Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I

wasn't looking."