He Sees You...

I was dog sitting the week between Christmas and New Year's. I have an adorable "grand-dog" named Jolene. She is tiny and she followed me everywhere I went in the house. Just like a toddler, she demanded attention. I found myself looking at her constantly and saying "I see you!". She seemed to respond to the fact that I looked at her and acknowledged that she was there.

After she left, I started thinking about how often I said that phrase to her. I see you. Do I say that enough to my girls? To my husband? To my friends? Do I say to them: "I see that you are struggling" or "I see what a great job you did with that" or "I see your effort and your heart"?

We all have that human need to be acknowledged. That wife that needs her husband to really see her. That boy that needs his parents to acknowledge him. That teenage girl that needs her father to love her so that she doesn't beg for that attention from a boy. That mother that needs her children to appreciate her.

Jesus really saw people. He told Zacchaeus: "I see you! Come down and take me to your house.". He told the woman at the well: "I see you and your sins. But I love you and forgive you so go and sin no more." He told Peter: "I see your zeal and your passion but I know that you will deny me. Never the less, I will build my church on you.". He told the thief hanging on the cross next to him: "I see your heart and today I will see you in heaven".

El Roi. The Hebrew word for "the God who sees me". Jesus sees you... believe that today. Know that He sees you and your heart and your struggles and your pain. He sees you! And He knows. Rest in that today, sweet friends.

She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: 

“You are the God who sees me,” 

for she said, 

“I have now seen the One who sees me.” 

 Genesis 16:13