I see me...

...it was a frigid winter day not so long ago in my mind, yet more years ago than I will admit. The breying wind beyond the door would carry my little cherub off to school. I wanted her prepared, protected--insulated from the winter's cutting reach. I stretched a crocheted helmet hat upon her head and began to pull and tie the strings beneath her little chin, when she, looking up at me, announced, "I see me!" Seeing a spontaneous opportunity to clarify pronouns, I corrected her, "No, you see me!" Sterner she repeated--this time isolating each word and syllable, "No...I...see...me!" And stronger still my teaching style: "No, Carin...you...see...me!" This time, she the teacher and I the slow learner heard, "No, daddy, I see me...in your eyes!" Finally, I realized that for the first time this little one discovered her reflection in the shiny mirrors of her father's eyes...and she saw her. With a cold world waiting outside, I hoped that she was readied for her day by seeing what I saw...an exquisitely beautiful little girl who could, in my mirror eyes, do anything she determined to do. What better place to see ourselves than in the loving eyes of Our Father...who sees in us what we cannot see in ourselves. Then, filled with a Father's loving vision and wrapped in his care, we can meet the day. Yes, I hope she saw what I saw. I hope she sees what I still see...just beauty, promise, love.