Little eyes see a lot! Do you believe it? Have you ever thought about it? Where do we always see little eyes? Think about it for a moment. Here are some places where little eyes can be seen. Little eyes can be seen in the home, little eyes can be seen at school, little eyes can be seen at church, little eyes can be seen on the streets, little eyes can be seen in the village, little eyes can be seen in the community, little eyes can be seen everywhere. Is that not awesome? Is that not scary? Is that not sobering? Is that not thought provoking?
Well, if little eyes are seen everywhere, do we not have a responsibility as adults, and as parents? What do you think? What kind of responsibility should we have? We do a lot of things during the day and think that no one ever sees or bothers about it, but little eyes see a lot. What we always need to remember is that the formative years of children are very important, and they have a very impressionable mind. They may not be able to speak properly, but they very quickly learn and absorb mostly by hearing and especially by observing.
Hence, each one of us as, parents, sisters, brothers, cousins, nieces, nephews, grandparents, aunts, uncles, teachers, friends, pastors, policemen, and neighbours, influence the life of one of them. Therefore, let us expose them to the right values, manners, and habits, at home, at school, at church, in the community and other places, to help them grow into good persons, and wholesome and productive citizens to make up the future generation that will shape the world.
James Dobson once said, “Children are not casual guests in our home. They have been loaned to us temporarily for the purpose of loving them and instilling a foundation of values on which their future lives will be built.” And Nelson Mandela said, “History will judge us by the difference we make in the everyday lives of children.” And the Bible tells us, children are a gift from God. Offspring are a reward from Him! Because of this, God cares about how children are raised and nurtured.
As parents and adults, we always complain that children do not listen to us, but they never fail to imitate us. Children always learn more by seeing than by hearing but let us not worry that children never listen to us; let us worry that they are always watching us. Children seldom misquote. In fact, they usually repeat what we should not have said.
Here is a poem written by Dr Ahmad Sabirin Arshad, that every adult and teenager should hear, because children are watching us, and doing exactly as we do, and not as we say. It is entitled, LITTLE EYES SEE A LOT:
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 that there is a God I could always talk to, and I learned to trust in Him.
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 must help take care of each other.
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you give your time and money to help people who had nothing, and I learned that those who have something should share with 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 must 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 grew 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, caring, 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.”
Is this not a beautiful and powerful poem? Well, now that you are aware of those little eyes, what will you do when you see them?
Remember: Children are our most precious and valuable resource. They are not coloring books. We do not get to fill them with our favorite colors. Each day of our lives we make deposits into their memory banks. They learn more from what we are than what we teach them. They are the living messages we send to a time we will not see. Our Children are mirrors, they reflect back to us all we say and do. So, let us sacrifice our today so that our children can have a better tomorrow.
About the Author: Mrs. Marilyn Hodge owns and operates the Wellness Centre in the Farrington, Anguilla. The Centre offers Counselling Services by Appointment Only and has now published Positive Living Volumes 1 through 3. Coming Soon – Volume 4. Contact information: 476-3517 or email: marilynb@anguillanet.com. www.facebook.com/axawellnesscentre
