Why Does His Face Look Like That?

Just to give you the backfacts...our family does not eat sugar.  Our children have never had it.  We read every label with a microscope and we're pretty much psycho about not letting processed white sugar into our life.  Our children make us really proud when people offer them candy, etc. and they turn it down without hesitating, whether we are watching or not.  They know the whys and the wherefores and wonder why anyone else wants to ever eat the stuff.  Blah blah...moving on...

We arrived at home today from a long walk in the beautiful fall weather.  A man was walking along the sidewalk in front of our house with a grim expression and much beer in his hands.  My oldest daughter Merci (who actually is not that old really) said, "Mommy, why does that man's face look like that?"  And I said, "Like what?  Like sad or mad or something?"  And she said, "Yes.  His face is all twisted up.  I'm sure he eats sugar."  Of course I had to laugh about that way down deep.  And then she added..."or Mommy, maybe he just doesn't like himself very much and he doesn't know how much God loves him and it makes him so sad."  Quite the insightful observation for a five year old.

This is the journey to understanding and wisdom.  This is the road marked with suffering.  And compassion is always close at hand.

May that man be awakened from a long, deep sleep to know how high and how long and how wide and deep is the Love for him.  Good Spirit, hover and whisper and shout how you feel about him in a way that he can receive it.  Jesus, personalize yourself to him right.  Meet him in the deep dark angry places that just need a little lovin'.  And the next time we see him as he walks the sidewalk in front of our house, may he have the happiest of all faces.  Yes.