My Father's Eyes Light Up When I Enter the Room
I love to read, but until today I’d never heard of Nobel-Prize winning novelist Toni Morrison.
When asked how she became a great writer – what books she had read and what methods she had used – she replied:
“That is not why I am a great writer. I am a great writer because when I was a little girl and walked into the room where my father was sitting, his eyes would light up. That is why I am a great writer. That is why. There isn’t any other reason.”
Before continuing, go back and read that again… slowly.
That quote immediately made me think of my son. He lights up my life as well. I love viewing the world through Caden’s eyes, because it takes on a whole new meaning. Before he arrived in this world I had no idea how much I could love another person. That love is truly indescribable.
Because of Caden I even enjoy things I’ve never previously found interesting. For example, all of my life I’ve had a dislike for playing card games and board games, yet I’ve recently discovered a love for them. Last night I spent hours playing Go Fish as well as Connect Four and Pickup Sticks. Just last week I found myself enjoying The Game of Life. My son loves these games. It’s so beautiful to watch the enjoyment he gets while playing. I can’t help enjoy playing them simply because he enjoys them. His laughter is angelic and the expressions he gets on his face nearly stop my heart.
Unless you know me well, it may not seem all that remarkable that I’d enjoy those games. The fact of the matter is that I have never been able to stand them in the past. If we have guests over who wish to play card or board games I tell them I’ll be happy to watch but I’d rather not play. Then, when nobody is looking, I sneak away to watch television or use my computer. Caden is the only person with whom I have a good time throwing cards around a table.
I often times wonder if the real reason we are placed on this earth is to experience love. Perhaps we’re here to form relationships with each other, bring families into the world and learn to love things we’d never enjoy alone. By learning to love others we can also begin to understand the love God has for us. I bet He looks at us and watches our laughter and facial expressions and his chest nearly bursts his buttons, much as what happens to me when I watch Caden. And, while Caden has no siblings, I bet it would pain my heart immensely if he did and if they fought all the time. Likewise, I know God’s heart is pained when we can’t get along with the rest of his children.
“I am a great writer because when I was a little girl and walked into the room where my father was sitting, his eyes would light up. That is why I am a great writer. That is why. There isn’t any other reason.”
That quote, slightly manipulated, applies to all of us:
We are all that we are and all that we will be because our Father’s eyes light up when he thinks of us. That is why. There isn’t any other reason.
