Setting up for the workshop gave a good opportunity for some moral instruction with my children.

 

I addressed the need for observation if we are going to show any level of initiative.  If you want to go above and beyond obedience, if you want to serve people you need to be observant. 

 

To be observant you will see first of all how things are done – this helps you know the standard, helps you to bless people by doing things the way they like things being done, it also removes the need for constant instruction because you have noticed how things get done.  Observation also lets you see what needs to be done so you can step in and get it done.

 

How do you observe?  First of all consider what you are doing out of obedience as important.  If you are just doing it out of obedience, and your heart isn’t in it, your actions will be automatic and you won’t be seeing any other opportunity than getting it done – being obedient.

 

Secondly, open your eyes…This is a matter of self discipline – open your eyes and see, once again see with your heart, see what needs to be done.  We can choose to see what is in front of us or we can choose to see more than that.  I totally believe in domestic blindness (children and men excel!) but I believe the answer is in training their hearts and giving a system to train their eyes to see.  The answer isn’t in fatalistically accepting this phenomenon!

 

 

It can be a hard concept that we are to use our senses with our heart.

We can listen but do we listen with our heart?

We can see but do we see with our heart?

We can touch but do we “give” with our heart?

We can speak but do we speak with our heart?

And as for smell… not sure how the heart is involved there!!