A Retelling of Life

Archive for June, 2010

With Eyes But Cannot See by Francis Kong

With Eyes But Cannot See

Posted: 24 Jun 2010 04:05 PM PDT

Here is a nice story I got from the Net. It’s credited to anonymity but nevertheless, very important for me to share so read the words closely.

There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She told her boyfriend, “If I could only see the world, I will marry you.”

One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend.

He asked her, “Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?”

The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn’t expected that. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him.

Her boyfriend left in tears, and days later wrote a note to her saying: “Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine.”

The sacrifice has been made but the gratitude was never there.

This is how the human brain often works when our status changes. Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who was always by their side in the most painful situations.

I have gone through this and so have you. How easy it is for people to forget. The sacrifices, the friendship, the love, the moments of help you have extended yet today, not only were they forgotten, the very people you have helped and loved have turned against you, hate you and even do their best to destroy you. Such is the state of the sinful heart. This is why Scriptures warn us against our own hearts. That the heart is hopelessly wicked and is bent towards plotting evil.

Just think about this. God has always been good yet people refuse to accept Him and continue to live a life that defies His Will and His Ways. All of us are ungrateful people and only by the Grace and Mercies of God are we delivered from ourselves.The moment one turns to Christ, God replaces the stony heart with a tender one and puts the indwelling Spirit and sets up residence in the life of the person. And this is the only way why and how people can truly change into a brand new life.

Do not be ungrateful.

Today, before you say an unkind word,
Think of someone who can’t speak.
Before you complain about the taste of your food,
Think of someone who has nothing to eat.
Before you complain about your husband or wife,
Think of someone who’s crying out to GOD for a companion.
Today, before you complain about life,
Think of someone who died too early on this earth.
Before you complain about your children,
Think of someone who desires children but they’re barren.
Before you argue about your dirty house someone didn’t clean or sweep,
Think of the people who are living in the streets.
Before whining about the distance you drive,
Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.
And when you are tired and complain about your job,
Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.
But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another,
Remember that not one of us is without sin.
And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down,
Put a smile on your face and think: you’re alive and still around. And you can still put yourself in the loving mercies of the Savior.

Today may just be your day.


Driving Lessons

I woke up early today, excited to begin my road to independence. You see, I had decided that after nine years of holding a driver’s license, it was now time to actually drive. I had braved the long lines at the LTO to renew my dormant license, I had bought a car with my rent’s financial help, only one thing got in the way, I had to learn the skills. At 7:10 am, the instructor was nowhere to be found. I had a bad feeling about it, the fact that he was late smacked of unprofessionalism but I needed him as I have a desperate need to drive. I no longer like being dependent on people to drive me around. I hate having to wait to be picked up. I want life to happen at my own pace and that means being able to do as I please.

Suffice it to say that I didn’t quite enjoy my morning drive. I wasn’t ready to go on 3rd and 4th gear but my instructor made me. It made me feel uncomfortable as I wasn’t ready yet. I thought it was just me. There was something about him that I didn’t like but I just shrugged it off.
On the way back, he helped me park the car at home. We used the same path my boyfriend and I used just a few days ago. This time though, it wasn’t a worry free ride. I could see him expressing his exasperation at my less than stellar performance in shifting gears. Whereas I encountered no difficulty before, this time the car’s engine gave up on me several times. Still, I thought maybe the problem was with me and decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.
At the office, I compared notes with a co-worker who had just completed her driving lessons with their other branch located in the downtown area of Bacolod. She had signed up for 10 hour lessons and had just completed her 9th hour today. She expressed disbelief that the instructor had urged me go on 3rd and 4th gear on my 1st lesson. I’m changing instructors tomorrow. I’m not giving up yet. Please bless me with a good instructor tomorrow dear Lord. Help me get to “independence” day ASAP.

World Cup Passion

I remember a time when I was passionate about the world. I didn’t care if I failed or succeeded, I loved greatly. Now, I’ve become a passive person. I let life happen around me. There’s no idea that I particularly care about anymore, there aren’t any good fights left in me anymore.

That’s why I cry while watching World Cup games. The passion overwhelms me. I reminisce to a time when I could feel my blood surge, where the nuances of life filled me with wonderment. I am no longer that wide eyed excitable child. Bless me Lord that I may find my passion again. Amen.

A White Horse

Today, I bought a car. I finally own one. It is a strange feeling. There’s a big BUT though, I don’t know how to drive well yet. Then again, that’s how it’s always been with me, I need to experience things on my own. This is me saying yes to the adventure of learning how to drive. Ten years after I was issued my driver’s license, I now have the will to drive.


Brownouts and Halo Halo

After 4 hours of suffering the indignities of a world without electricity, I am in my zen zone again. The Halohalo feels luxuriously cool as it travels from my tongue down through my throat. It is a lovely feeling. I am reminded of cool summer nights by the beach.

I am reminded of my list. It’s time to create one again. Hmmm.
1. Get married to a loving and kind man and have wonderful children with him.
2. Travel to Europe and the Americas.
3. Own a successful business.
4. Be in a position to help others.
5. Have a meaningful life. 🙂
6. Get published.
Thank you Lord for dreams.

Dreams Do Come True

“I want to travel.” This is what I wrote on my “to do” list about 7 years ago. Somehow, I think there is some truth to the visualization trick most motivational books talk about. Thanks to Cebu Pacific, I’ve been to Hongkong, Macau and Bangkok and this September, we’re going to Vietnam. If that isn’t travel then I don’t know what is. =)

I also wrote, “To live and love”. I am now with someone whom I truly love. He inspires me to be better and I believe I do the same for him. It is wonderful to be with someone who understands you the way you want to be understood.
“To become a lawyer.” That too, I managed to do on my first try. Although, I am not yet certain about the kind of lawyer I really want to become. I love my profession.
I have been truly blessed. I am grateful dearest Lord for the opportunities you’ve given me. Thank you for showing me that dreams do come true.
P.s. I guess it’s now time to dream new dreams.