I was at one of my favorite shops when I felt like someone was watching me. I looked over and sure enough, a woman was looking at me. I was checking out when I caught her gaze. I started thinking about what the woman might be looking at. Was my shirt tucked in weird? Did I have food on my face? I had been running around all day and had just stuffed lunch in my face on the way to the store. How did I treat the woman who rung up my purchase? As I thought about these questions, I realized, we are being watched.
When I was in high school, one of our theater assignments was to go to a public place, people watch, and come back to class performing a person you had watched. I loved this assignment. I love to sit and people watch. I wear sunglasses all the time and think I am incognito looking at others through my tinted lenses. It's fun. We learn a lot about others when they don't know we are paying attention. My experiences have led me to realize that someone is always watching. They may be judging. They may be learning. But, people are watching us. They are listening to how we speak to our children, how we treat our spouse, the way we talk to our waitress. People are always listening; always watching.
Now, I know I should not care what people think about me but, this whole idea of others watching me, especially when I don't realize it, gives me a sense of accountability. I claim to be a Christ follower. I present myself a certain way on social media and to friends and family but am I really that girl when I think no one is watching? How do I treat my boys when I think I'm alone? Do I treat Scott with respect? Or am I only on my best behavior when I think others see?
"And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good." 2 Thessalonians 3:13
I don't necessarily think it matters who is or is not watching us, rather, it matters how we treat one another and how we behave when we think no one is watching. Knowing someone may be watching gives us accountability. I know I have learned watching another mother discipline her child in a store. I have learned watching others when they didn't know. I have also been encouraged. I love watching people treat those in the service industry with gratitude and respect.
What we do when people are watching matters. What we do when people are not watching matters even more. We can love a persona of love and respect outwardly and live quite differently in private. God knows regardless of who is watching for He looks at our hearts; our motives.
'But the LORD said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."' 1 Samuel 16:7
Love & Blessings,
Meg
When I was in high school, one of our theater assignments was to go to a public place, people watch, and come back to class performing a person you had watched. I loved this assignment. I love to sit and people watch. I wear sunglasses all the time and think I am incognito looking at others through my tinted lenses. It's fun. We learn a lot about others when they don't know we are paying attention. My experiences have led me to realize that someone is always watching. They may be judging. They may be learning. But, people are watching us. They are listening to how we speak to our children, how we treat our spouse, the way we talk to our waitress. People are always listening; always watching.
Now, I know I should not care what people think about me but, this whole idea of others watching me, especially when I don't realize it, gives me a sense of accountability. I claim to be a Christ follower. I present myself a certain way on social media and to friends and family but am I really that girl when I think no one is watching? How do I treat my boys when I think I'm alone? Do I treat Scott with respect? Or am I only on my best behavior when I think others see?
"And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good." 2 Thessalonians 3:13
I don't necessarily think it matters who is or is not watching us, rather, it matters how we treat one another and how we behave when we think no one is watching. Knowing someone may be watching gives us accountability. I know I have learned watching another mother discipline her child in a store. I have learned watching others when they didn't know. I have also been encouraged. I love watching people treat those in the service industry with gratitude and respect.
What we do when people are watching matters. What we do when people are not watching matters even more. We can love a persona of love and respect outwardly and live quite differently in private. God knows regardless of who is watching for He looks at our hearts; our motives.
'But the LORD said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."' 1 Samuel 16:7
Love & Blessings,
Meg
Comments