From the Pastor’s Desk (188)
We don’t realize what we have until we lose it. For me, it was my eyesight. Even though I have been wearing glasses since college, my vision had been pretty decent at -2.50 in both eyes until I turned 40 when I had to start wearing progressive glasses. Then, in the beginning of 2013, my eyesight has gotten drastically worse when I developed retinal tears and retinal detachments in both eyes. After going through multiple surgeries, five on the left and two on the right eye, to be exact, my vision is not the same as before. All the surgeries that needed to be done to take care of the retinal detachment in my left eye have been done. But the vision is still very blurry because the macula, which is responsible for central vision, has been damaged. I can’t drive or read books with my left eye alone. God needs to help me with this and I would like to ask you for prayers.
The right eye, however, was in much better condition. I was able to do my daily routine activities using that eye. Unfortunately, due to the surgeries that I received, my right eye started to develop cataract since last summer and the vision has been getting increasingly worse and blurry. I have become extremely nearsighted and had a very difficult time seeing signs on the highway which made driving tough and dangerous.
As you know, I had cataract surgery on my right eye this past Wednesday. It was an important surgery for me because if it didn’t go well, then I would have become homebound. Many of you fasted and prayed for the surgery to go well. I felt so much love from all of you.
The surgery went well and I see things clearly that are about 15-18 inches away!!! And even with an old pair of glasses that I used to use before the retinal surgeries, I see objects in the distance so much better!!! It’s so good to be able to see things clearly once again!!!!!!!!!! In about three to four weeks, when the eye heals and calms down from the surgery, I will have to get my vision checked out in order to get a proper set of prescription glasses. With these glasses, I am told that I should be able to see things both near and far. I can’t wait.
Even though my vision is not as good as before all the surgeries, I am so thankful for what I have now because I have gained back some of the loss. I don’t take my eyesight for granted anymore and I am very committed to take care of my eyes, especially the right one, because without it I will not be able to function.
New Life, let’s not take things for granted. Instead, let’s be thankful to God especially for those seemingly small things.
- Can you see? Thank God for your vision!
- Can you hear, smell, taste and touch? Thank God for those senses!
- Can you walk? Thank God that you are able to walk!
- Are you single? Thank God for your singlehood that gives you so much freedom and flexibility to serve Him!
- Are you married? Thank God for your spouse whom He uses to make you more like Christ!
- Do you have children? Thank God for them even though it is tiring and difficult raising them at times because they bring you so much more joy than pain and it is through raising them that you learn something about God’s unconditional love for you!
- Do you have a job? Thank God for the work you do through which you get to express who you are and provide for your family!
- Are you laid off? Thank God for the time of rest you are experiencing!
- Thank God for your house church!
- Thank God for New Life that you are part of!
- Thank God for a ministry or two that you get to serve in!
If you lose these or if these are taken away from you, you will realize how good you have it now! Therefore, thank God especially for those seemingly small things in life because they are not small after all.
Once again, thank you so much for praying for my surgery to go well! God has answered all your prayers and I see so much better!
Your pastor,
Eric
No Comments to "Let's Be Thankful in Seemingly Small Things!"
