Renee Andrews's Blog - Posts Tagged "birth"

“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

As we sat in the waiting room for labor and delivery, I listened to a woman sharing the news of her grandchild’s birth on the phone.

“He has ten fingers and ten toes. He’s absolutely perfect!”

I glanced to J.R., sitting beside me, and then to the other family members sitting with us and waiting for the birth of our third grandson. I know J.R. heard the comment and thought the same thing I did, but I am not certain whether our other family members heard the statement, and I didn’t point it out at the time.

Everyone was very sensitive to the topic then, because our grandson had yet to be born; however, from the ultrasounds that had occurred in the preceding months, we knew that he was missing at least one digit on his right hand. Now, I know the lady wouldn’t have ever made the statement if she had known, but even so, it stung.

Her grandson was absolutely perfect, she said. But all I could think was…

So is ours.

Ten fingers and ten toes doesn’t equate to perfection. In fact, one of our dearest friends was born without arms. But when I look at Mr. Dean, I don’t think about his disability. And when I look at our grandson Ryan, now three years old and thriving, I don’t even notice the difference in his fingers. He’s adjusted very well and uses both hands fine, even hitting a baseball on one of our recent trips to see him in Tennessee. But the main reason I don’t notice anything different with both of them is because I’m not looking at the outward appearance. I look at them…and feel love. I look at them…and see their hearts.

This Week: In everyone you meet this week, look beyond the superficial and see the real person beneath. Look at others the way God looks at us, so that you aren’t noticing anything…but the heart.

Mondays with Jesus 2017: Devotions to Begin Each Week of the Year

Renee Andrews