Open the eyes of my heart

John 20:19-31

19When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” 24But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

26A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” 28Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” 30Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

I have to admit that this is one of my favorite passages in the Gospels. I can totally relate to Thomas. Show me! Prove it! I dont know what his life experiences were that caused him to forever known as doubting Thomas, but his faith was nascent.
Many times as a parent, I have uttered those same words: show me. Prove it to me. Did you clean your room? Prove it. Is your homework done? Show it to me.
I know we all would like to think we would just believe at that moment-on the road to Emmaus, landing on the beach, hanging with Thomas & the other disciples. More than likely, I would struggle with believing without seeing. I, like Thomas, would need to feel the nail holes and touch the pierced side.
Then, I too, could emphatically exclaim My Lord and My G-d!