The Father’s Gaze

May 1, 2026

Our children need to know that we see them — just as God sees us

By Trevor Williams

May 1, 2026

Backyard baseball — Photo by Spirit Juice Studios

Baseball will always be my first love. I fell in love with the game at a young age, attending countless Padres games with my father. From as young as 1 year old, my dad took me along, placing me in the stadium seats in my car seat. As I grew older, after each game, I remember him asking me, “Who did you see play today? Who did you watch?”

As kids, my brothers, friends and I would play wiffle ball in the street. “We’re playing at a sold-out Petco Park!” we would shout, so concerned about whether we had an audience, always looking over our shoulders. “Who is watching? If I do this, will somebody see it?”

As a Little Leaguer, when I would make a good defensive play or get a base hit at an important moment during my games, my first thought was always, “Dad, did you see that?” and I would look up at my father, sitting in the bleachers with a wide smile on his face. The joy that gave my young heart — to know his gaze was upon me and that he was proud.

Whether you have a great dad, a bad dad, or don’t know your dad at all, we have all asked this question: “Dad, are you proud?” We were all once children, playing before our parents, with a desire in our heart to make them proud.

We also know that God is always watching — but the Father’s gaze means more than that. It sits right at the intersection of divine omniscience, providence, mercy and intimacy. The Father’s gaze penetrates our heart; he knows our longings, our joys, our sacrifices: “O Lord, you have searched me and known me” (Ps 139:1).

If you watch a Major League Baseball game, you will notice that many players look upward in moments of success or failure. Some cross themselves; others point. They all raise their gaze to heaven — “Dad, did you see that?”

As a father myself, I now get a small glimpse into our Father’s heart as he gazes upon me in the same way. Every time my kids do something hard, they quickly turn to see if I saw. Every time they make a diving play in Little League or in our backyard wiffle ball games, they jump up to see if Dad was watching.

In showing our children our loving attention, we reflect our heavenly Father, who sees, knows and loves them perfectly.

*****

TREVOR WILLIAMS, a father of four children, is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Washington Nationals and a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Council 9665 in his hometown of San Diego.

The Father’s Gaze

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