What’s your greatest fear, my friend? Mine used to be that I would become a widow… until a friend observed how blessed I was that my in-laws lived up to their 90’s. She opened my eyes to the possibility that hubby would live a long life coz of his genes. I’m not saying that being a widow is no longer a concern. I’m saying that I will no longer worry or be afraid of it.
Recently, I have dry eyes syndrome. My eyes, alternately and intermittently, the left and the right, hurt or feel discomfort. My dad had glaucoma. He discovered it when he was still living in Manila. He had his ophthalmologist friend diagnose and take care of it, checking eye pressure regularly, prescribing eye drops to alleviate the symptoms. There’s no cure for glaucoma. You can only slow down the condition from becoming worse.
The damage caused by glaucoma can’t be reversed. But treatment and regular checkups can help slow or prevent vision loss, especially if you catch the disease in its early stages.
Glaucoma is treated by lowering your eye pressure.(source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/glaucoma/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20372846)
My dad eventually went totally blind. My eye problem made me wonder if I had glaucoma. My Abi researched and asked me about my symptoms. After comparing my symptoms with those of glaucoma, she assured me that I don’t need to worry. But it’s still good to do screening. Praise God for the favorable results. I don’t have glaucoma. 
Today, i read Jesus giving sight to 2 blind people.
Matthew 20
29 As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him. 30 And two people who were blind, sitting by the road, hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” 31 But the crowd sternly warned them to be quiet; yet they cried out all the more, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” 32 And Jesus stopped and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” 33 They *said to Him, “Lord, we want our eyes to be opened.” 34 Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.
It’s interesting what they said when they heard Jesus passing by. They knew Jesus healed people. Why did they not say: Jesus, heal us? Why call him Lord? Why mercy? Twice, they said the same words. The first time, the action verb sandwiched between the two nouns: Lord and Son of David. The 2nd time, the subject before the predicate (action).
Interesting too how Jesus responded. Did he not know they were blind? Why did he ask what they want him to do for them? Perhaps he wanted them to be specific how they wanted him to show mercy? Lord, we wanted our eyes to be opened.
Jesus was moved with compassion. He empathised and sympathised. He understood how deep their desire to see. How hard it must be to be blind! He touched and he healed them.
Although this story is about physical eyesight, it reminds me of the importance of being to see things through the lens of our Creator who made us in His own image. Living life in this troubled world is not easy – even and perhaps more so for followers of Jesus. Christians are not exempted from troubles. We also get sick, have financial troubles and relationship challenges.
When life is not easy, do I see the One who gives me life? When problems come, can i perceive the purpose behind it all? That God wants me to experience Him, know Him more as I depend on His grace and mercy?
Many lessons in life are learned in hindsight – after things happened. As I look back to the dark and difficult periods in my life, I realised again and again, that it is in these challenges that I get to grow – stronger and wiser. When I was young, I had many weaknesses (I still do). I was timid, I was slow, I often wanted the easy way out. I still do… sometimes. 
I made many mistakes. I often gave in the pleasures of the flesh – for momentary gratification of my sinful nature only to suffer the longer time of sin’s consequences. Instead of keeping quiet or answering softly, I would say things in anger just to get it off my chest.
So now, I’m learning slowly, step by step, how to see ahead. Foresight.. I need to hold my tongue because from past experiences, I know how bad or sad it could get when I did not have self-control.
I also realise that too much screen time hurt my eyes. So I need to stop now and go back to sleep so I can rest my eyes. A blessed Lord’s day to you, my friend.
May the Lord open your eyes to see as He sees. Cheers!
