Open the Eyes of My Heart

This was the entry song at church tonight: Open the Eyes of My Heart (link to video that sounds almost as good as the youth choir...)

I am quite sure they have no idea, but there are certain families that just bring a tear to my eye at church. I don't know if I can even describe the feeling in words.

I was walking in with one of those families tonight: a dad and 5 boys. I think the oldest is about 13 and the youngest is 6. They remind me of a Daddy Duck and 5 ducklings. They always seem to form a line with Dad out in front. And of course that's how I see them go to communion, in the line. They are always reverent, well behaved, punctual and they are there every Sunday.
Sometimes Mom is with them but not often. This is the Sunday night Life Teen Mass at 7pm. Using my imagination I figure she attends an earlier mass when they were all sleeping in and uses this time when they are all gone to clean up after dinner or get ready for the week ahead. (Me and my imagination.)
When I see them I have to stop myself from staring. Their clothes are casual and always clean, usually jeans and t-shirts (this is the Life Teen mass after all). And Dad has a long gray pony tail that goes halfway down his back.
Sometimes they talk quietly amongst themselves or one or two get up to go to the washroom.
What is it about them that fascinates and touches me all at the same time? A father leading his sons in spiritual example. In our world right now it seems so rare.

And the fathers holding babies....that's when I lose it. (I've got to remember to bring tissues.) Dads holding squirming toddlers or walking with them at the back while the little one grasps a finger or two, trusting Dad to lead them. The scenes of these fathers are so special.

The apparent love and tenderness just simply moves me.

And gives me hope for the future.

Then He opened their minds to understand the scriptures...
~~Luke 24:45