Be Careful Little Eyes

Most of us recognize these lyrics from the children’s song Oh, be careful little eyes what you see. It’s a catchy little tune sung for generations in Sunday school classes everywhere. We may know the words but do we really understand the meaning?

How do I look at people? How do I see them? Not just their silhouettes, but how do I really see them. Seeing people goes beyond their physical appearance. We see a mom struggling with her kids at the grocery store and more than likely the first thought we have is “why can’t she control her kids?” Maybe she is just having a really bad day. Maybe her husband just left her and now she is struggling with raising these kids on their own. We don’t know her story, yet we feel we can judge her by just a moment’s glimpse of her life.

Recently I learned about the child prostitution industry. For much of my life I had no idea it was going on right in the neighborhoods where I lived, shopped, and went out. Now that I know what is going on, I notice things. I see the ads for missing teens at my local Walmart or on the billboard signs and wonder if they are being enslaved in this industry.

I am ashamed to admit but for many years I looked at the prostitutes standing on the corner and thought badly of them. I judged them. I researched the topic as I learned about the child sex slavery industry and found that many of these teens who were trapped in this field are now the women we see on the street corners. I see these women now and I feel for them. I wonder what horrors of their life drove them to where they are now. There are so many heart wrenching stories of women who left home at a young age and needed money to survive. Then, they got addicted to drugs and life just spiraled downward. These women do not need looks of scorn from us. They need our love. They need our understanding. Some of these women are waiting for someone to rescue them. To show them they can have a better life. Instead of seeing these women as criminals, I beg you to see them as victims. Let you heart see them the way Jesus does. See them through His eyes. These women are His daughters. He loves all His children and His heart breaks for those who are mistreated. Shouldn’t our reaction be the same?

So I want to warn you to be careful how you look at people. You don’t know their story. You don’t know what is going on in their lives. Instead of looking with disdain at those around us, give everyone you meet a big smile and shine your love.