Looking Behind

A proud mother showed me her phone with a New Year’s Eve video of her daughter skating. It was cute watching the child’s face and form as she worked on her skating rhythm and balance. As I admired her daughter’s skating, the Mom commented: “I’m not a good skater but I skated backwards to take the video. My daughter worried that I would fall, but I told her it would hurt if I fell, but she was worth it.”

A skating child video is cute, but when you look at what you cannot see: a unsteady, backward skating, adoring mother, it is beautiful as well.

I hope when you enjoy what is in front of you, you are also aware and thankful for those behind the scenes.

O Lord, you have searched me and known me.

You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away.

You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.

Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely.

You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.

Psalm 139:1-5 NRSV