She told them, "Jesus is watching you."

Do you ever get the feeling that you are being watched? The cranes that visit my backyard everyday "watch me like a hawk."  They depend on me for food, usually sunflower seeds, but they know I often have a treasure for them in the form of leftover muffins or bread just a little too old for a fresh sandwich. They sometimes just stand at the screen door and stare into my kitchen window, willing me to come feed them a delicacy. Some days, I sense their presence. It's a bit strange being watched.

Years ago when my daughter was only ten, we lived in Savannah, Georgia for a time. I worked with the youth choir at the local Methodist church planning a Christmas play. I teamed with a woman who often got angry with the nine and ten year olds running around the room trying to build sets, make costumes and learn songs. She would say to them in a very stern voice, "Jesus is watching you" hoping to elicit fear and trembling. The other day when Darren took this picture, I saw that peering eye, and thought of Savannah, Georgia and the Christmas play. I heard her stern voice in my head.

I'm sending up a prayer for her and others who live in the fear of the eye of Jesus, for I know in my heart that Jesus is watching us. Ain't it grand!

Thank you, Jesus, for watching over us, under us, inside of us and out. What wonder!