The Super-Duper-Looker Box
April 29, 2009
(Much thanks to katdish for having the brilliant idea to spotlight me on her blog yesterday and effectively breaking my Google analytics in the process. If you’ve never visited her, please do. She’s hilarious, she’s honest, and she lives what she believes. I guarantee her blog will be among your favorites [besides, you know you can't pass up something called Hey look, a chicken!]. Now, back to business…)
But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Luke 9:62
My son handed it to me and said, “Look what I made today, Daddy.”
Six pieces of glued cardboard, complete with cut-out eye holes and miscellaneous graffiti—a wobbly pair of black glasses rings the top, some colored grass on the sides, and his name in the back.
“Wow,” I said, turning it over in my hands. “Now that is one great…box.”
“It’s not a box, Daddy,” he said, rolling his eyes. “It’s a Super-Duper-Looker Box.”
I had no idea what a Super-Duper-Looker Box was. Nor did I know what function it served. But I learned early on that your kids will upon occasion take much time and much effort to create something just for you, and that to them much time plus much effort equals much love. Saying something like “I don’t know what this thing is” wouldn’t score me any Daddy Of The Year points. So I had to figure out what it was and what it was for in a more roundabout way.
“You’re kidding me,” I said. “That’s the best Super-Duper-Looker Box I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen a lot. It’s for me?”
“Yep.”
“Awesome. I’ve always wanted one of these.”
He looked at me and smiled. I looked at him and smiled back.
“Are you gonna use it?” he asked.
“Absolutely.”
“Okay!”
Again: he looked at me. I looked at him.
“The thing is,” I said, “I’m not quite sure I know how to use it. These things can be complicated, you know. And I’m not really a complicated guy.”
“Let me show you,” he beamed.
I gave him the box. He lifted the top open, pulled down the section with the eye holes, and shoved the whole thing onto my head.
“It’s a little tight,” I cringed. “Which is good. That’s how Super-Duper-Looker Boxes are supposed to be.”
“You need to push it all the way down, Daddy,” he said.
“All the way?”
“Yep.”
I grabbed both sides and pushed, effectively putting my forehead where my nose was supposed to be.
“Perfect!” he said. “Do you like it?”
“I love it,” I answered. Then: “When do I take it off?”
“You have to wear it every day,” he said, “for a half hour, I think.”
“Can I start tomorrow?” I asked him.
“Sure.”
The box made a horrific sucking sound when I pulled it off, but the pain was worth it. My head stopped hurting, and I could both breathe and see again. My son’s Super-Duper-Looker Box may well have been an expression of his love, but it felt like a medieval torture device.
There is an unwritten policy between my wife and I that all things crafty given to us by our children have a shelf life of approximately one week. After that, the kids will usually forget their gifts and we will quietly slip their creations into the trash. Yes, this sounds harsh. But you do this sort of thing if you have kids, too. Don’t lie.
My son never once mentioned the Super-Duper-Looker Box over the next three days, so I thought putting it into the trash a little early was an okay thing to do. I changed my mind when he walked into the living room yesterday evening holding it.
“Daddy?” he asked, bottom lip quivering. “Who threw away your Super-Duper-Looker Box?”
Uh-oh.
A little quick thinking and a few white lies managed to calm him, though not enough to avoid the inevitable.
“Will you wear it now, Daddy? Outside?”
“Absolutely,” I said.
So out we went, he and I and my Super-Duper-Looker Box (“I’ve been looking for this thing for days,” I told him). We sat under a shade tree and he mashed it over my head again and I was thankful for the breeze that seeped up and onto my face.
“Can you see?” he asked.
“Perfectly,” I answered.
“Then it works, right?”
“Right as rain.”
“Can you see better? Because it’s supposed to make you see better.”
Okay God, I silently prayed, My head hurts, I can’t think straight, and I don’t want to mess this up again, so how am I supposed to answer this one? Because if I’m honest, then the answer is an unqualified no. I can’t see better. I can’t turn my head to see backward. Can’t even turn it to the side. All I can see is…
What? a tiny voice inside me answered. All you can see is what? What’s in front of you?
Yes.
Wonderful! Because that’s where I need you to be looking. What’s ahead is all that matters. What’s behind you is gone. What’s around you can get you into trouble. You look ahead. You look where you’re going. I’ll take care of the rest. Understand?
Yes.
“Do you see, Daddy?” he asked.
“I do see,” I answered him. “More than you know.”
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47 Responses to “The Super-Duper-Looker Box”
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I’m a writer whose first novel, Snow Day, will be published by FaithWords in 2010.
But don’t let that fool you. I’m just as confused as anyone.
And that is fine with me, because the great thing about wandering around in the fog is that you never know what you might run into.
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Oh yes, nothing chills a parent to the bone like the deadly “Where’s my shoebox lid with the willow tree?”
Sometimes I will hide crafts for a few days to make sure she won’t notice when they meet their demise.
Wish I had a Super-Duper-Looker Box. It would save me much trouble and anguish.
You have a wonderful story-telling quality to your writing.
You did it again…got me all choked up! Now my mascara is streaming down my face! Thanks, thanks A LOT! Oh, I’m just kidding with you…not the choked up part, of course!
How is it that you can take something completely ordinary and spin the most beautiful lesson from it? What’s your secret? I must know! You and your son appear to have such a special father-son relationship. I can tell by they way you write how much you adore him…and I can assure you that he adores you right back! You are one great dad!
I can’t wait for him to ask you to wear your “Super Duper Looker Box” to Wal-mart one day!
Amen! What a great spiritual lesson courtesy of the “super-duper-looker box!” What a sweet child to make something out of the ordinary and turned it into a “special gift” he gave to his daddy.
Another great post that warms and lightens the readers’ hearts. God bless.
YES! We can’t really do anything about where we’ve been, and most of the things around us aren’t worth looking at. Looking ahead – ahhhh, yes – looking forward is the thing to do!
Amazing how God uses Super-Duper-Looking-Boxes and other God-orchestrated events to re-focus us, to re-center us, to look ahead!
Looking ahead – and chuckling about seeing you in your Super-Duper-Looker-Box!
With the biggest smile on my face – AMEN!!!!!!!!!!
Beautifully written Billy!
Beautifully done God!
Oh how GREAT is our GOD?
I love how He teaches us things when we open ourselves up to see like a child!
Past is done! Leave it there! I have forgiven you.
Tomorrow is My concern! Today is where I want you – will you hear My voice? Today Billy – Me and you let’s go for a walk. Look ahead or you might trip and I will catch you – but please do us both a favor look ahead – follow Me – I will be your good Shepard.
Ahhhhh – Yes LORD!
Blessings and joy!
Jill
As a mother, I especially laughed at the throw away part. The secret is to throw it away in the OUTSIDE trash can, where they won’t see it when they throw something away.
Great writing. Keep looking ahead!
Hi Billy–
Good point. It seems what’s right in front is often missed for all the peripheral things, eh?
I loved the garbage can tale…I just ask the kids if they want it in their room or in the garbage and surprisingly they usually throw it away. It works for us.
Have a great day.
Lori
Well all I could do is chuckle and think how LUCKY you were that it was not in the garbage under last nights remaining spaghetti and all grodded up! You lucked out there! :0)
I love the verse you quote too…once we’ve moved on it’s not good to go back. In so many ways.
I love the stories of your kiddos. You and your wife are wonderful parents!!!
Dear Mr. Coffey,
First, thanks for the shout out, for being more popular than me on my own blog (jerk), for classing up the place a bit and for allowing your inner redneck to shine on Hey look a Chicken. For Billy’s readers who happen to check out my blog, I want to say a very heart-felt “Sorry/You’re welcome”, and to apologize for any inappropriate comments that may or may not be related to monkey anatomy.
Now on to your story. What a beautiful object lesson for those of us who have difficulty focusing straight ahead; who seem to constantly get distracted by all those things that we tend to put before God. Aside from your blatent disregard for the 9th commandment, it was perfect in every way. Well, except the part where your son found the box. Everyone knows you gotta push those things down to the bottom of the bag and then throw some coffee grounds on them. But otherwise, perfection!
Billy, great story. It makes me want to go lift heavy objects, because a real man puts a box on his head for his kids.
Billy,
Love this post. I think every parent has had something made for him or her and thankfully for me, as of this point, nothing I had to wear.
I love you great sense of parenting as you slipped the box on and the great analogy God whispered to you!
While you were writing your post, every part of me was living that moment with you, right down to the trash discovery. Don’t you hate that?
Can’t wait to see what tomorrow holds for you, until that time, perhaps some Tylenol might help!
Love and Hugs ~ Kat
I really enjoy reading your post. My daughter who is now 6 likes to make a lot of things whether it’s coloring/painting a picture, cooking some imaginary full course meal, etc. She really gets a kick out of my excitement and enthusiasm.
Moments like these are what we will treasure 10, 20 years from now.
Blessings to you!!
Wonderful story and lesson. I think I could use a Super-Duper-Looker box right about now. My Sweet Pea hasn’t yet started making me crafts, but I’m sure one day I’ll have a love-hate relationship with them. Thanks for sharing!
One week shelf-life for crafts…Good call. Wish my wife and I had the sense to make such a rule when the kids were younger. The crap, I mean crafts, are still in boxes scattered throughout the basement.
Another nice story!
Awww, that word from God was worth 1/2 an hour in an Iron Maiden, wasn’t it? Great story telling. And uh, no, I don’t throw out my children’s crafts or tell them white lies… or lie to fellow bloggers in their comment sections, wink wink!
Actually, I take pictures of the precious stuff before I toss it so I can pull them out in case of a meltdown.
Billy,
Thanks for stopping by my blog today. I agree that my daughter is not just the average teenager. Jesus is her makes her stand out way above the crowd, at least in His eyes and mine.
I loved your post today. I love your blog. Taking the time to think what did I learn today is a great way to not let the gifts of our everyday moments slip away and go unappreciated.
I agree that all we need to do is look forward toward the future. What has happened in the past does not determine our future, what is going on in our lives at the moment does no determine our future. Only that which you believe about what God has promised us determines what the condition of our future will be.
There is no reason to look back unless you want to go backwards. No reason to look side to side unless you are wanting to turn around or you are afraid someone is passing you. Looking forward and pressing toward the mark of the prize of our high calling is what Paul is determined to do in Phillipians 3:16,17.
I think your son’s super-duper-looker box is a great object lesson for all of us from our wonderful Lord and Saviour to help us see the error of our waywardness.
Loved the lesson you learned today!
Christy Rose
From the hands of a child you received a great gift! God is so good in how He surprises us with timely lessons.
Loved this one!
Shalom,
Denise
You are totally rockin’ that Super-Duper-Looker Box! It’s YOU, dude.
I love the way you interweave your stories with spiritual lessons. Trying to teach us by catching us off-guard, eh?
One of my biggest challenges is to avoid looking back. I know that it’s no use dwelling on the shoulda, coulda, woulda aspects of my life, yet it’s difficult at times to push those out of my vision!
Great lesson…thanks for sneaking it up on me! ;o)
Wow, that was beautiful post! what a daddy you are!
Billy,
Your son is soooo cute! What a treasure he is!
Indeed, the “message” you learned from “The Super-Duper-Looker Box” was excellent: just keep looking forward, keeping our eyes and hearts on Papa Jesus Holy Spirit!
This wonderful story of yours brought back fond memories of the drawings and artwork my students and “kids” did when I was a nanny, pre-school teacher and school teacher. Ha! I, too, “played along” the best I could with regards to “what” each artwork depicted. Yet, because they gave them to me, they were gems. I put a lot of their stuff on my refridgerator at home, then kept them in a special bin.
Thanks for this great post.
Blessings,
~Amy
As a non-kid-having single person, I’ve never quite been in that position. But I totally identify with God’s Word to you. In fact, as I was reading, when I got to that part I just sorta gasped and my hand just sorta flew up over my mouth. ‘Cause I totally didn’t see that coming.
GOOD WORD, my friend! Thanks for sharing it with the masses.
(And by the way, can I get my honorary Man Card in pink? Or do they only come in standard blue? JUST KIDDING!)
The lessons we learn from our children often take me aback! God so uses them in the most amazing ways.
Beautiful post. I enjoyed it thoroughly!
Blessings to you!
Would that all little boys had loving and attentive dads. Now you have made me go and miss my once-little-and-crafty-now-grown guys. Keep telling the stories.
Billy, you look good in the box. (Ok, Matt is right that you are a very big man to wear it outside. I would’ve made up some excuse about how it only works inside so no one would see me. I’m vain that way. And I would’ve blamed Boz for throwing it in the trash.)
Kidding aside, that was a great lesson for those of us who have trouble focusing on what’s in front of us…
Annie – I’ll be honest here: I looked outside first to make sure the neighbors weren’t out. One day, my son will understand this.
Good job, Dad.
And thanks for introducing us to that great kid of yours.
Fantastic. Your words never fail to lift me up.
Do you think your boy would make one for me? Sometimes, I have a little trouble seeing what’s in front of me, too.
Way to think “inside the box,” Billy!
Right on! Cherish these times with the kids.
Great story- reading it before bed. I can vouch for the crazy gifts that have to be explained as well as throwing them away after an acceptable time (except what my wife scrapbooks).
It’s all about perspective and seeing correctly- good stuff.
You humble me. And inspire me. Simultaneously.
That was so like God wasn’t it? To crawl right into that Super-Duper Looker Box with you and whisper into your ear. Isn’t He amazing!!!
Your gift blesses me through and through.
awesome post. all your posts are great. Thank you. THANK you for taking the time to write them.
I love your super duper looker box. I don’t know a person on this planet that couldn’t use one of those! When I think of all the horrible mistakes I’ve made that could have been avoided . . . well . . . the mind just boggles.
Wow! I love your writing style. Not only was that a great story, but I did actually learn something! Go figure…
My friend Denise over at teacups&time recommended your blog and I'm so glad I came by. I'll definitely be back. Have a great day!
Good point about learning to look at what is ahead. See. It was a super duper looker box.
Kids can provide us with a good dose of perspective at times. Thanks for the lesson.
That is great, BC.
just kidding.
Your kids have a great father!
We all have a great Father in heaven.
I think you could put the SDLB on ebay!
Btw,
Do you really say, “Right as rain”?
LOL
That was lovely to read. I thank you.
The quote was a timely reminder for me right now as well. Some days I want to throw up my hands in frustration and walk away.)
Beautiful photo at the top of your blog.
Super-Duper-Looker Box, Wow! That sounds like an incrediable invention. Your son is a genius! Cute post, Dad! God bless you.
Bren
You never cease to amaze me, Billy. Wow. What a lesson, and what a dad! You’ve blessed me.
You left a comment at Glass House to Cynthia, as she revealed an evening with Jesus Christ as a child. Her post is awesome.
But her reply to you stated that YOUR post was the same for her.
So I looked here as a new visitor, to see what she saw.
Twofinches is correct.
It takes a loving father to meet their child where they are at any stage of life.
When I read of the art work throw away, and a plea to fess up folks, you do this too…..my mind drifted to my own daughter, Karli, and all of her art work over the years. I am apparently more of a collector of these items than most parents, for I have boxes and boxes of all my children’s “home mades” over many years.
Indeed, I have all mine going back to when I was their age eons ago.
Pack rats can be parents too.
But when Karli was around first or second grade, we moved into a downsized location. I could no longer be as extravagant at keeping every item the children crafted.
But my heart could not part with any either.
The kitchen was covered everywhere. There was no fridge space; all was covered (even the side).
I had placed a giant corkboard in the dining room. It nearly covered the wall. This was reserved for pictures of our times together (photos). When the board was full and thumbtacked in every space, new pictures were added of what we did whenever, by having the kids decide what to take off, for room to put new pics up. All of my pics have thumbtack marks on them from their appearance days on the wall.
I told Karli to do the same with her art work on the fridge. It was full.
She was to choose what came down and where the new art would be placed as a result. Soon, we collected a massive pile of Rembrants by Karli.
I told her these were just too good to part with, so I needed her help.
We gathered a pile of her artwork that had spent its time on the fridge and drove to a geriatric center.
I explained to her that many old people do not see their children, since they moved far away. I asked her to be “their child” for a while and share these masterpieces with the old people.
They were in wheelchairs everywhere. It was no special holiday; just a child visiting and meeting the elderly, who rarely see any visitors.
Amazingly, her height was perfect for looking into the eyes of a person in a wheelchair, at rest.
She walked up to many chairs and looked at the person, picked out one of her works, and handed it to the person for keeps.
Soon, she was attracting attention from quite a crowd. One tiny shrunken woman was in the back and could not move her chair by herself. Karli saw her and had only a few art pages left. She walked to this little lady, who was peering directly at my daughter’s eyes all along.
Karli handed an item of art to the woman, who lifted her arms slowly, and placed both of her hands upon Karli’s hands, which held the picture.
Neither moved for an extended time.
Finally, Karli said to the woman:
“I made this for you!”
The woman, still holding Karli’s little hands and picture, looked down at the art. She stared.
If Vincent Van Gogh had come in just then, and handed the same woman his “Irises” picture and proclaimed: “they wanted to pay him $60 million, but he wanted her to have it instead, so here”….
it would be close to how this woman received Karli’s art work.
She finally let go of Karli (who was totally happy to be held by the woman’s hands), and she lowered the picture to her lap, and cried.
She managed a very slow
“Thank you, child”, and went back to staring at the art.
When all were handed to the audience in wheelchairs, we waved goodbye to folks who rarely see children, except in their memories.
In the car, I asked Karli if she realized what had happened in that Old Folks Home?
“They all liked my pictures!” she replied with a grin.
“Karli”, I continued, “because you went as a little child and shared your gifts with old people who have no visitors, and no one thinks about them, God wrote it down what you did.
Someday, you will be old too. You may even end up in an Old Folks Home like this one. But when you do, God is going to send directly to your wheelchair, a little girl about your age, and she will present you with her art work…just like you did today for others.
When that girl gives you her art, I want you to remember how precious it is, as that woman in the chair who held your hands thought. You won’t be lonely when you are old, because you made old people forget being lonely now. Remember that for me, Okay?
“I will dad”.
Don’t throw them away folks. The love that was built into the crafts and art for you, is still in it for others. Find an Old Folks Home, or a City Mission, or a homeless person by day, and share these valuable pieces of your child’s heart anew.
Keystone – You humble me. I’d say more, but I have to go dig through some things before the garbage truck comes in the morning…
Great post, Billy. Love it. Where you are right now….love that concept. I so often look back with a grimace then look forward to tomorrow….but what about right this moment.
Nicely done.
Wonderful again, Billy!
And now the box will live on in your blog.
Love the analogy here. Great idea to share at a nursing home too!
tony york linked to you on my blog today.
what a great post. and so well written too! i was there throughout the whole story.
i know that quivering lip. ive been caught throwing projects away more times than i care to admit.
i put this verse on my blog this week…
“Keep your eyes focused on what is right, and look straight ahead to what is good.” – Proverbs 4:25″
with the same thought in mind that you shared.
thank you for your words and willingness to share them.
“What? a tiny voice inside me answered. All you can see is what? What’s in front of you?
Yes.
Wonderful! Because that’s where I need you to be looking. What’s ahead is all that matters. What’s behind you is gone. What’s around you can get you into trouble. You look ahead. You look where you’re going. I’ll take care of the rest. Understand?
Yes.
“Do you see, Daddy?” he asked.
“I do see,” I answered him. “More than you know.””
That brought tears to my eyes.
I needed to hear what God was saying through this.
Thank you.
(And this is the first time I’m posting here, too… Love Tam’s Pimp My Post!)