Tuesday, July 8, 2008

These Blind Eyes Now See

This hot humid Mississippi summer has really been doing a number on a skin condition I have called seborrheic dermatitis. When I visited my dermatologist last week she told me that I need to make sure I shampoo my hair every day and that I leave the special shampoo in at least five minutes before I rinse it out so it can do the work it's supposed to do. In the first place, I hate shampooing my hair every day because it takes so long to get it dry. But I think I hate this skin condition worse so I decided I would try and get with the program! This morning when I got in the shower, I put the shampoo on my hair first and got it good and lathered up. There I left it and proceeded to finish my shower. The only problem was that I had all this shampoo sitting on my head and there were little rivulets of foam running down my forehead from time to time. This particular kind of shampoo hurts like the dickens if it gets in your eyes so I decided to finish my shower with my eyes tightly squinched together!


As I felt around in the shower for the soap and washcloth I thought....I am so thankful that I don't have to grope around in the darkness all the time! And then the Lord brought to my mind a book that I had read many years ago by a lady named Marolyn Ford. The name of the book is These Blind Eyes Now See. In this book she tells a totally amazing story of becoming blind and then being healed. I have heard her speak a couple of times and ,boy, is she ever interesting! A godly lady if I ever met one! By the time she was 18 years old, she had lost her vision because of macular degeneration. Undaunted, she went to a school for the blind and learned how to take care of herself and be able to go wherever she wanted to independently. Many years later, after she was married and had a daughter, the Lord miraculously healed her and gave her sight back. She went to her eye doctor who had been taking care of her for years. He examined her eyes, shook his head and said...."Marolyn, nothing has changed in your eyes. I can still see the scars covering the macula. BUT just by talking to you and hearing you describe what you see in this room I know you CAN see! It has to be a miracle!"


And as I write about this miracle of Mrs. Ford's, I can't help but also think about the young man that was blind from birth ,whom Jesus healed and gave sight to in John chapter 9. Then, when he gave Jesus the glory for his healing, the Jews said to him..."Give God the praise: we know that this man (speaking of Jesus) is a sinner." But the man who had formerly been blind from birth, and who could now for the first time see all the wonders of God's creation, could not and would not let these legalistic Jews force him to turn against the One who had healed him! "He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see." (John 9: 25)


Such is the story also of every Christian. We were born blind... to the things of God. But when we came to Him in faith for salvation, He touched us and gave us a new way of seeing things. Since that time we have been able to see through spiritual eyes the things which we had never been able to see before! And we are never, ever the same after the touch of Jesus in our lives! All I know is, I was blind, but now I see! What a blessing!


Today, deliberately try to take in with your eyes all the different colors, shapes, light contrasts and textures you can! And with your spiritual sight, ask God to let you see the things around you today....people, situations, etc.....as He sees them.


Thanking God today for sight!

Marilyn

7 comments:

Deborah said...

Amen!
The song I've just put on my blog says, "You remind me just to set my eyes and heart on things above..." How much better we can see when we do just that!

Joyful said...

Great post Marilyn.

You're right, we all have a testimony that can be summed up in that sentence, "Once I was blind, but now I can see". Our stories are all personal and different, but the end has resulted in seeing our Lord and Savior.

Keeping my eyes fixed on Him,
Joy

Alene said...

We take so much for granted. I've watched my dad loose his sight over the years and I am so thankful for vision. I pray daily that God will open my eyes to His will and ways. Thanks for the great reminder today! Blessings.

Leah Adams said...

Marilyn,

Are you familiar with Jennifer Rothschild? She is a dynamic Christian author and speaker who is blind. She has such a wonderful testimony. I've done one of her Bible studies and read her book "Self Talk, Soul Talk".

Leah

Julie Gillies said...

Hi Marilyn,

How nice of you to visit my blog. My daughter-in-law is named Marilyn! :)

I have walked or ridden my bike for nearly 25 years, and I never cease to be amazed by the beauty around me. God's handiwork is awesome and it always creates in me such gratefulness that I have eyes to see it all.

Thanks for sharing this wonderful post.

Cheryl G. said...

Wonderful post. We have so much to be thankful for. I know how often I take for granted the fact that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Thank the Lord for physical sight and even more that "I once was lost, but know am found, 'twas blind but now I see".
Amazing Grace!!!

Your blog is a blessing to me.

Marilyn in Mississippi said...

Leah,
I am familiar with Jennifer Rothschild but only a little so far. I do have her Bible study called "Walking By Faith....Lessons Learned in the Dark" that I hope to get started on before long. (I'm in the middle of something by Beth Moore right now)
I guess the reason that Marolyn Ford came to my mind so quickly the other day was that I heard her speak about 20 years ago at a campmeeting (Camp Zion when Bro. Percy Ray was pastor) and bought her book which she autographed for me. Certain things she said have just stuck in my mind all these years. Then I was able to go and hear her speak again a couple of years ago.

Thanks for mentioning Mrs. Rothschild though. She's another great example of "living by faith and not by sight".

Marilyn