My Sweet Charlotte Elsie makes the funniest faces when she’s concerned about something.  This morning we were looking for birds (not really, I just told her that so she wouldn’t freeze up in front of my camera).  She was apparently concerned about what she saw, which led to her giving me smiles that resembled the look of constipation.

Taking her focus off the ‘concern’, I brought her closer to me and told her to look into my camera.  Look at my face.  Look at my eyes.  Her tension slowly melted away and she forgot the issue that troubled her.  You can see it in her face.

FOCUS.  RELIEF.  COMFORT.  JOY.

When we fix our eyes on Jesus, the problems of this world don’t seem as scary anymore.  I’m reminded of this old hymn that I sing sometimes when my mind only wants to focus on the struggle at hand:

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.”

Hebrews 12:2-3 “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”