Oh be careful little eyes, what you see...

I teach CCD to 3 year-olds at our church, and one of the best parts of teaching has been the music class that occupies the first 20 minutes of class each week. Our music teacher has an amazing gift with the children, and the songs that she teaches - complete with hand movements to keep everyone engaged - are full of wonderful, substantive messages for the little ones to soak up. Each week the kids sing songs like "My body is a temple of the Holy Spirit," "Mary loves me this I know, because Jesus told me so," and "You're a great big God, a very busy God, but you take time for me." The children sing with such enthusiasm and vigor, it's really heart-warming to watch!

One of the songs that I love the most goes like this:

"Oh be careful little eyes what you see, oh be careful little eyes what you see; For the Father up above is looking down in love, Oh be careful little eyes what you see.

Oh be careful little ears what you hear...

Oh be careful little feet where you walk...

Oh be careful little heart whom you trust..."

And so on...

The song is simple and poignant, maybe even more so for the adults in the room than for the children, and I often find myself singing the lyrics with my children throughout the day. Those of you who listen to Christian radio have no doubt heard the song "Slow Fade" by Casting Crowns, which uses the lyrics of this children's song as its central theme. The song begins something like this:

"Be careful little eyes what you see; It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings; Be careful little feet where you go, It's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow

"It's a slow fade, when you give yourself away; It's a slow fade, when black and white have turned to gray; Thoughts invade, Choices are made, A price will be paid, when you give yourself away; People never crumble in a day...It's a slow fade..."

Today, let us all remember that "it's the second glance that ties our hands," that we all have many choices throughout the day between what we know to be good and true and what we know is evil, and that our children are watching more closely than we might imagine. Let us be mindful of what we hear, say, think, and do, realizing that it is all of consequence and that we are either moving towards God or away from Him every day. And when we make mistakes, let us run as quickly as possible to the feet of Jesus, to ask for the mercy and forgiveness that He has promised us. Let us encourage each other to make frequent use of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, in which Jesus forgives us our sins and bestows on us the grace to live pure and holy lives. 

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Protect us against the wickedness and snares of the devil...