My eighteen year old got his first pair of glasses on Saturday.
His reaction was just what I hoped it would be.
"Look! Blades of grass! I can see individual leaves on that tree! I can't believe what I've been missing!"
It got me singing this song...
And it got me thinking of the time I taught the words to my kids.
We were living in France then and the kids loved the song. I remember one morning when the sun came out from behind the clouds on our way to school. There we were, driving down Cours Sablon, the whole car singing:
I can see clearly now, the rain is gone,
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day.
I do love that song.
I've gotta sing a little more.
I think I can make it now, the pain is gone
All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is the rainbow I've been prayin' for
It's gonna be a bright, bright, bright
Sun-Shiny day.
I looked at the weather report this morning and sure enough, there will be nothin' but blue skies
heading our way this week, with temps in the upper eighties and low nineties.
But I know that with many of us, maybe including myself, we'll still have rain to deal with. We'll still have dark clouds overhead and obstacles that stand in our way.
We can see clearly, but they're still there.
Today I'm thankful that even when we're standing in the rainstorm with no sun in sight, even when the dark cloud seems to follow us around, God promises to stand with us.
We are not alone.
It's a hopeful thing!
Have a wonder-full Monday, y'all!
Love, Becky
Eyeglass photo by Mr. T in DC, creative commons
Rainy day photo by Alyssa L. Miller, creative commons
16 comments:
My 12yr old had been saying for sometime that we needed to get her an eye exam. finally at somepoint early in the school year (about a year ago), I took both girls for a check up. Madeline (who is 14) has used glasses for reading for about 2 years, although her prescription isn't very strong. The doc said, while Madeline is farsighted, Annie is more like me and is nearsighted. The day she got her new glasses (which she was told she only needed to have to read the board at school) she had them on at home in the evening. She looked out our front window and down to the south and said. Mom, look.. see those 5 lights..those really cool. I said yes Annie, they have always been there.. you are just now seeing them for the first time. It's amazing to watch her reaction to those things she has missed and I'm a happy mother that she finally can see them (funny enough that I didn't know she couldn't until then). and yes.. I love that song as well. it's a keeper. I'm enjoying reading your blog, keep it up.
I got my first pair of glasses at 12 and was amazed that you could actually see the leaves on trees. For my entire life, my prescription has been the same for both eyes. Sure makes wearing contacts less complicated.
So glad that your son can see clearly now. :D
Smiles,
Teresa
I have always loved that song. It says so much. When I was younger, I was one of those kids that wanted glasses because it was cool. I never understood not being able to see. Now that I am in trifocals, I understand what it is like to have bad vision. Glad you aren't racked with guilt about this event. Opps, you weren't were you?
Here's to his improved vision!
I love that we have hope my friend. Well said. Well said.
Blessings,
Bren
Thanks for reminding me of my own wonder when I saw leaves on trees again after not even realizing what I was missing.
And thanks, too, for reminding me of the song. I couldn't help but pull out and post on pulpitbytes a memorial service meditation on it I did a couple years ago.
As you are so good at reminding us, there is a lot of the presence of God lurking in places and people and experiences (and songs!) where we don't expect it.
Thanks for helping to make my Monday wonder-full!
LoVe that song !!
and having vision ~
physical and spiritual ...
You've gotta love that hope -- and I love you reminding us of it!
Have a happy, hopeful day, Becky!
I so remember the first time I put my glasses on. It was like a miracle.
I'm enjoying these memories of newly found sight! I too remember the first time I put on glasses and how amazed I was! For a person who can't make out the big E on the chart, it's such a joy to SEE!
Love to you all!
(And no worries, Susan. No guilt here. :) )
Becki, I've been so fortunate to never have had to wear glasses, but my mother used to be horribly near-sighted (before laser surgery) and has told me stories about seeing leaves for the first time. I can only imagine... (Now there's another awesome song!) :)
Here's to good vision, both internally and externally!
Funny, I said almost the exact same words when, at 18, I got my first glasses. I added, "Look at that street sign, I didn't know people could actually read those from the car!" Made navigating unfamiliar territory much easier. Scary to think that I had already been driving 2 years! Of course, now in my forties, I am again lamenting the size of the street signs. Why do they make them so small? Are we supposed to be able to read them? Really? ...As for the deeper meaning of your post, isn't it a beautiful feeling when God stops the rain, lifts the clouds and allows us to see what He has been doing, and we see clearly that He was with us all along, comforting, protecting, guiding us back into the sunshine?
I read your post about your allergies. My daughter has been having a horrible time right now. That's a whole other story, but I was talking to my neighbor who also suffers from horrible allergies and she did the pricking and probing on her back and the doctors told her she wasn't allergic to anything either. Then they retested her on her arm and she said it was a severe reaction and she finally knew it WAS allergies and what it was she was actually allergic to...just by getting tested on her arm instead of her back. Just wanted to share that with you and give you something to think about. I will pray yours gets better, as I know how difficult it is to have allergies.
Big Fat Mama
I remember having the same reaction the first time I put on glasses ... not that I wanted the glasses, but I did enjoy the clear vision! Wonderful post, as always!
I remember when I first tried my glasses on. My mom asked me what I thought of them and I looked at my reflection in the mirror and said, "Well I was a lot better looking when I couldn't see what I looked like." HA! Poor little self conscious little girl. ;)
That is a great song, isn't it? :)
I totally remember that about getting glasses. Individual leaves on the trees. WOW!
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