The Blind That Can See

Here, in the Tetons, as a chauffer and bus driver, I've had the opportunity to drive some prestigious and interesting people, but one couple, surpasses them all in my memory. They made a real impact on me! Yes, I carried quite a few celebs and some government officials, but those weren't the ones that made a lasting impression. It was a couple on my side of the hill ~

I won't use their names, for privacy reasons, but this couple shares the same disability, but you wouldn't know it, by some of the things they've done or do. They are both blind. She is a retired music teacher, plays the piano and harp, beautifully ~ enjoys bike riding, (tandem) with a friend and snow skis! Yes, snow skis! He is a retired professor and loves to spend hours messing around with a ham radio in the garage. He does all the grocery shopping and the banking and loves books, he reads braille!

You know, we may think of this couples' blindness as a disability, but I truly think we are the ones that are disabled! They have insight we don't possess ~ they've found the meaning of contentment. We can spend alot of time whining over what we don't feel like doing ~ I never heard these folks complain, it was always about the challenge, the opportunity, a grateful heart for the little things.

Talking about perseverance, patience, the ability to overcome the obstacles in life ~ some people make an impact on our lives that we just don't forget! It was a major undertaking for these folks just to get from the back door, down the steps, through the garage and into the vehicle. But even more so, was getting from the garage to the curb to get the garbage can out for collection, especially in the winter ~ but teaching, skiing, piano, harp, ham radio, reading braille. Wow!

I'd drop him off at the grocery store with only a cane and pick him up an hour later with the groceries. Picture yourself going to the grocery store and shopping for groceries. You can't see (just not running into other people and the displays would be a big enough challenge) but you wouldn't be able to see what you're buying or how much it cost. At the check out how are you going to see what bills to give them or know what change you got back. The coins would be easier because of the difference in sizes, but the bills, another thing altogether. Yet I took him, almost weekly, to the store, to the ATM and on other errands and I heard no complaint, but only rejoicing!

I got the opportunity to take husband into town one day ~ he was so excited ~ he wanted to surprise his wife with a kite ~ she'd never flown one and he could hardly wait to teach her how to fly it! I think I was as excited as he was! I have a hard enough time flying a kite with my eyesight, I know without it, I'd be all tied up in the string. On another occasion, the husband wanted to surprise his wife with a gift of special candy for Valentine's Day and had me go to another city to pick up for him ~ what a blessing it was to do anything for these dear people!

I asked him once about the bills and how he knew what money he was giving them ~ he explained that he could, usually, guess by their usage, but it wasn't a 100%, that he ran them through a machine and the machine told him what they were. He then, put them in his money clip in a certain order and knew exactly how much he had with him. The change he got back was a little trickier.

Doing the laundry was a bigger deal for them, than for us, but they seemed to do it with joy. How often do we complain about doing the laundry or the dishes? Try doing it next time with your eyes closed. It was a big deal getting dressed and having their clothes match. We can stew about not liking what we have to wear! They had to use a machine to tell them what color their clothes were so they could match them.

Hardships bring what's important into perspective! It's when life is too easy and we have everything that we've ever wanted that spoils us, and we become ungrateful and nothing is good enough! Seems backwards doesn't it? Hardships bring maturity, perseverance, and character, giving us everything we want, doesn't breed a thankful heart, but greed. Trials and hardships can cause of us to see what we do have and cause us to become grateful. My friends can see more than you might think, they see what they have, they appreciate the little things in life, they've gained insight!

I've carried celebs that people would druel over ~ but if I could carry anyone, my choice, just one more time ~ it would be this couple, they are still a joy to my heart, just at the thought of them!

I remember the husband's joy ~ all his life he'd wanted a complete braille Bible! Sound like no big deal? Exactly how many books do you think it would take to contain the whole Bible in braille and could you even begin to guess the cost? I looked them up online ~ with the company I checked out, they ranged, in cost, from $645 ~ $916 and came in 18-20 volumes to contain the whole Bible.

The things we complain about and take for granite! Wouldn't hurt for us to be blind for a week or even a year, just to open our eyes to really see what matters in life! To see what we have and to appreciate our eyesight, to see our blessings, instead of never being content and always wanting more!

This couple is a true inspiration to me ~ we're the ones with the disability! They see just fine, they see what we don't!

Proverbs 14:30 says,
"A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones."

Proverbs 15:15-16 says,
""All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart is a continual feast. Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil."

Philippians 4:11-13 says,
"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or want. I can do everything in Him (God) who gives me strength."

1 Timothy 6:6-8 says,
"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that."

Psalm 23
"The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not want ~"

Psalm 73:25 says,
"Whom have I in heaven but you? And the earth has nothing I desire besides you."

2 Corinthians 12:9 God said to Paul concerning his "thorn in the flesh":
"My grace is sufficient for you."

A life hidden in God and hardships bring contentment! They bring to the the forefront, what's really important!

I leave you today with 2 Peter 1:3-9 says,
"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being INEFFECTIVE AND UNPRODUCTIVE in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins."

May God bless you today, my friend!