“You are the salt of the earth … You are the light of the world.” Matthew 5:13a &14a ESV1
Read Matthew 5:13-16, Mark 4:21-25, Luke 8:16-17 & 11:33-36
I was first introduced to contemporary Christian music in the late 1980s when a friend gave me Amy Grant’s album, The Collection.2 I was so excited to have “cool” music that glorified God I listened to that tape over and over again until I had all the words to all of the songs memorized. On that album was the song, “Father’s Eyes.” The chorus to that song contained these words: “She’s got her Father’s eyes, her Father’s eyes; Eyes that find the good in things, when good is not around; Eyes that find the source of help, when help just can’t be found; Eyes full of compassion, seeing every pain; Knowing what you’re going through and feeling it the same. Just like my Father’s eyes.”3
I was so touched by those words I prayed that God would help me emulate His character by making me a woman who had her Father’s eyes. I remember exactly where I was when I prayed that prayer because it was one of those times when I felt like God answered me with, “Yes! That I will do.” At the time, if I had known through how much darkness I would need to walk to encourage others that there is hope on the horizon; how much struggle I would be required to endure to meaningfully help others; or how much hurt I would have to experience to identify with others in pain, I am not sure I would have prayed that prayer.