My daughter got her driving permit the other day. She was exactly 15.5 years old, the age allowed for such, and had been eagerly awaiting this day. It was 8:00 am and we were driving to the DMV to take the test when she verbally expressed her concerns about failing the test. “What if I don’t pass it?” I gazed at her confused. Her long blonde hair draped over her shoulder and her blue eyes were alive with anticipation. From where I was sitting, all I could see was beauty and power. I was puzzled.
To me, her mother, this was a comical concern. My type A personality, over-achieving daughter not pass a driving test? Ha! I knew better. There was no way she was going to allow herself to not pass that test. I knew that. But to her, the concern was real and valid. She was scared and she was doubting her ability and preparation.
It was at that moment that I had the realization that she had no idea who she really was as a daughter of God and what she was really capable of in this life. She didn’t know. She doesn’t know. She doesn’t know that the driving test is a very tiny concern in the grand scheme of her life. She doesn’t know that she’s capable of so many things like running her own successful business. She doesn’t know that she’s fitted for her own fashion line. She doesn’t know that shes equipped to love and nurture children beyond anything she knows at this time. She doesn’t know her strength or kindness or passion or beauty. She simply doesn’t know. She can’t see in herself what I see in her – her potential. I find it such a privilege to be a parent – to see my children through the hopeful eyes of a parent; to see them as potential.
While driving home from the DMV (yes, she passed and yes, I was riding shotgun) I pondered the eternal perspective of this vision. My daughter doesn’t see what she can become, what she will become, what I see her becoming. We, as God’s children, don’t always see that either. We don’t see the potential our Heavenly Father sees and knows for us. We don’t see what He sees us becoming. We don’t see how our little faults and failures will eventually mold us into a more polished form. We simply see failure and frustration. But that’s not what God sees. He sees us becoming. He is patient. He is kind and He is loving.
I think this is how He wants us to see each other, as potential, as what we can become. He wants us to love one another as potential, and have a hopeful and forgiving and undeviating love for one another like His is for all of us. His love is great and pure. I am forever grateful to know it.
