Thursday, March 17, 2022

Healing Tears


Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues?
Fix my eyes on God—soon I’ll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God. Psalm 42:5 (The Message)

Shadowy figures blended together into an immense blur. With one cataract removed, I expected clear vision in my left eye like I had with LASIK surgery several years ago. But I couldn’t read or even work on my computer with a fuzzy reading eye.  

            Watching TV wasn’t easy with one foggy eye. When I tried to close it, my eyelid kept popping open.

            Finally, I positioned myself on the couch with a pillow holding my eye shut. That worked so I could watch a detective program with my distance eye. The cozy pose lulled me to sleep and I missed the end of the show. Thankfully, I could replay the DVD. 

            When the fuzziness didn’t improve, I looked up the side effect on the Internet. The information said it could last for days or weeks. I texted friends who had the surgery to see how they fared. Most didn’t remember much about bleary sight. 

            I wanted the problem solved immediately but knew that wasn’t going to happen so I trudged off to bed. 

            With tape across half of my face to hold the shield in place and my sleep apnea device in my mouth, I laughed at my indistinct image in the mirror. 

            Way before the sun shone into my room, I awoke and wondered if my sight had improved. But my left eye refused to open. Scenarios swirled. Had the eye drops acted like glue? Perhaps infection afflicted me. 

            Reluctantly, I shuffled to the bathroom to assess the problem. My eye opened in slow motion when I removed the tape and eye shield. Instructions from the doctor said to not get the eye wet nor touch it for a week. With clean fingers, I carefully took tiny swipes to wipe off the gooey discharge. 

            Minutes later, I began my morning devotions wearing reading glasses and still not seeing clearly. Instantly, a multitude of tears began washing over my eyes. Grief for Alan not being with me for support. Hope of better vision. Thankfulness for prayers. Sadness for being lonely. Gratitude for friends who bolstered me. Anxiety for not knowing if haziness would remain. Peace from God for all I faced. 

            The tears continued to flow with emotions spilling out. As they slowed, I looked down at the Bible. I felt like shouting and praising God. Without glasses, words were clear for the first time in years. 

            God used tears to cleanse my eyes and heart.  

Loving Father, thank you for being close to us when we are sad, lonely, thankful, anxious, or peaceful. You can take what seems difficult and make it into something priceless. Amen.

Thursday, March 3, 2022

  

The Legacy Shirt

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)

Osceola Senior Games was printed across the top of the blue t-shirt. My eleven-year-old granddaughter, Molly, certainly wasn’t elderly or about ready to graduate but she wore one of my dad’s shirts for a nightgown.

            Although she wore his shirt, she never saw him run track, play basketball or softball. She learned of his sports activities from our family stories.

For years, my dad participated in Senior Games all over the United States. Medals he won covered a wall of his garage and he accumulated a supply of t-shirts from each tournament. When he passed away, several family members kept some of his shirts.

            Even though she didn’t know him like her sisters did, Molly carries on his legacy by wearing his shirt. In addition, she plays softball and basketball like he did. Watching her become more like her great-grandpa makes me happy.

            Although we don’t have a t-shirt that belonged to Jesus, we become more and more like Him when the Holy Spirit works within us. Instead of a physical garment, we can put on the fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 

            That legacy is even better than a shirt.

Loving Father, help us to put on the righteousness of God as we become more like Jesus. Amen.