The Gift Of Love:
It had been a year since Susan, age 34, had become blind. Due to a medical misdiagnosis she had lost her sight, and was suddenly thrown into a world of darkness, frustration, anger and self-pity. All she had that felt safe was her husband, Mark.
Mark was an Air Force officer who worked on the nearby Air Force Base and he loved Susan with all his heart. When she first lost her sight, he took time off from work and watched her sink into despair. But he never left her side. Mark was determined to help his wife gain the strength and confidence she needed to become independent again.
Finally, after a year of coaxing from Mark, Susan felt ready to return to her job, but how would she get there? She used to take the bus, but was now too frightened to go by herself, so Mark volunteered to drive her to work each day, even though they worked at opposite ends of the city.
At first, this comforted Susan who was so insecure about herself. Soon, however, Mark realized the arrangement wasn’t working and he thought to himself, “Susan is going to have to start taking the bus again. But she is still so insecure, so angry – how will she react?”
Just as he feared, when Mark mentioned it to her, Susan was horrified at the idea. “I’m blind!” she responded bitterly. “How am I supposed to know where I am going? Mark, I feel like you’re abandoning me.”
It broke Marks heart to hear those words, but he knew what had to be done. He promised Susan that each morning and evening he would ride the bus with her, for as long as it took, until she got the hang of it. And that is exactly what happened.
For two weeks, Mark accompanied Susan to and from work each day. He taught her how to rely on her other senses, especially her hearing, to determine where she was and how to adapt to her new environment.
Finally, after those two weeks, Susan decided that she was ready to try the trip on her own. Monday morning arrived and Mark walked her to the bus stop and said, “OK Susan, you can do this.” Before she left, she threw her arms around Mark, her eyes filled with tears of gratitude for his loyalty, his patience, and his love.
She said “Goodbye, Mark. I love you”, and for the first time in a year, they went their separate ways. Monday came, then Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Each day on her own went perfectly, and Susan had never felt better. She was doing it! She was going to work all by herself!
Friday morning, Susan took the bus to work as usual. As she was paying the fare to exit the bus, the driver said, “Boy, I sure do envy you.” Susan wasn’t sure if the driver was speaking to her or not. After all, who on earth would ever envy a blind woman who had struggled just to find the courage to live for the past year?
Curious, she asked the driver, “Did you say that you envy me?” The driver responded, “Yes and It must feel good to be loved and protected like you are.” Susan had no idea what the driver was talking about so she asked, “What do you mean?”
The driver answered, “Well, every morning for the past week, a fine-looking man in a military uniform has been standing across the street watching you as you got on the bus. Then, when we arrive at your stop, there he is, standing and watching you get off. He makes sure you cross the street safely and he watches until you enter your office building. Then he blows you a kiss and walks to a parked car and drives away. Then, in the evening, there he is again, watching to see that you are OK. You sure are one lucky lady!”
Tears of happiness poured down Susan’s cheeks. Mark had encouraged her to go it on her on. He had told her time and again that she could do it without him; that she was stronger than she could imagine. And now, after a week of doing it “alone”, she learned that Mark had been there all along, unseen, but close enough to rush to her aid if she needed him. She was so blessed, for he had given her a gift more powerful than sight, a gift that she didn’t need to see to know – the gift of his perfect love.
Mark was an Air Force officer who worked on the nearby Air Force Base and he loved Susan with all his heart. When she first lost her sight, he took time off from work and watched her sink into despair. But he never left her side. Mark was determined to help his wife gain the strength and confidence she needed to become independent again.
Finally, after a year of coaxing from Mark, Susan felt ready to return to her job, but how would she get there? She used to take the bus, but was now too frightened to go by herself, so Mark volunteered to drive her to work each day, even though they worked at opposite ends of the city.
At first, this comforted Susan who was so insecure about herself. Soon, however, Mark realized the arrangement wasn’t working and he thought to himself, “Susan is going to have to start taking the bus again. But she is still so insecure, so angry – how will she react?”
Just as he feared, when Mark mentioned it to her, Susan was horrified at the idea. “I’m blind!” she responded bitterly. “How am I supposed to know where I am going? Mark, I feel like you’re abandoning me.”
It broke Marks heart to hear those words, but he knew what had to be done. He promised Susan that each morning and evening he would ride the bus with her, for as long as it took, until she got the hang of it. And that is exactly what happened.
For two weeks, Mark accompanied Susan to and from work each day. He taught her how to rely on her other senses, especially her hearing, to determine where she was and how to adapt to her new environment.
Finally, after those two weeks, Susan decided that she was ready to try the trip on her own. Monday morning arrived and Mark walked her to the bus stop and said, “OK Susan, you can do this.” Before she left, she threw her arms around Mark, her eyes filled with tears of gratitude for his loyalty, his patience, and his love.
She said “Goodbye, Mark. I love you”, and for the first time in a year, they went their separate ways. Monday came, then Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Each day on her own went perfectly, and Susan had never felt better. She was doing it! She was going to work all by herself!
Friday morning, Susan took the bus to work as usual. As she was paying the fare to exit the bus, the driver said, “Boy, I sure do envy you.” Susan wasn’t sure if the driver was speaking to her or not. After all, who on earth would ever envy a blind woman who had struggled just to find the courage to live for the past year?
Curious, she asked the driver, “Did you say that you envy me?” The driver responded, “Yes and It must feel good to be loved and protected like you are.” Susan had no idea what the driver was talking about so she asked, “What do you mean?”
The driver answered, “Well, every morning for the past week, a fine-looking man in a military uniform has been standing across the street watching you as you got on the bus. Then, when we arrive at your stop, there he is, standing and watching you get off. He makes sure you cross the street safely and he watches until you enter your office building. Then he blows you a kiss and walks to a parked car and drives away. Then, in the evening, there he is again, watching to see that you are OK. You sure are one lucky lady!”
Tears of happiness poured down Susan’s cheeks. Mark had encouraged her to go it on her on. He had told her time and again that she could do it without him; that she was stronger than she could imagine. And now, after a week of doing it “alone”, she learned that Mark had been there all along, unseen, but close enough to rush to her aid if she needed him. She was so blessed, for he had given her a gift more powerful than sight, a gift that she didn’t need to see to know – the gift of his perfect love.
That’s how our Lord is. When we feel so helpless, so lost, so alone, He is there. Even if we can’t see Him or feel Him, He is there. In the darkest night or the fiercest storm, He is there. When we face our most trying time, he is there. He will never leave us or forsake us. His deep love for us keeps Him there, ready to protect us; ready to answer if we call.
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