It had been a year since Susan, a once fiercely independent woman, became blind. She was suddenly thrown into a world of darkness, anger, frustration and self-pity. Now all she had to cling to was her husband Mark. Eventually, 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 get around the city by herself. Mark volunteered to drive her to work each day, even though they worked at opposite ends of the city. At first, this comforted Susan and fulfilled Mark's need to protect his sightless wife who was so insecure about performing the slightest task.
Soon, however Mark realized that this arrangement wasn't working - it was hectic, and costly. Susan is going to have to start taking the bus again, he admitted to himself. But just the thought of mentioning it to her made him cringe. Just as Mark predicted, Susan was horrified at the idea of taking the bus again. "I'm blind!" she responded bitterly. "How am I supposed to know where I'm going? I feel like you're abandoning me." Mark's heart broke to hear these 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. For two solid weeks, Mark, military uniform and all, accompanied Susan to and from work each day and then took a cab back to his office. He taught her how to rely on her other senses, specifically her hearing, to determine where she was and how to adapt to her new environment. He helped her befriend the bus drivers who could watch out for her, and save her a seat.
Although this routine was even more costly and time consuming than the previous, Mark knew it was only a matter of time before Susan would be able to ride the bus on her own. He believed in her.Finally, Susan decided that she was ready to try the trip on her own.
Monday morning arrived, and before she left she threw her arms around Mark, her temporary bus riding companion, her husband, and her best friend. Her eyes filled with tears of gratitude for his loyalty, his patience, his love. She said good-bye, and for the first time, they went their separate ways. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, 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!
On Friday morning, Susan took the bus to work as usual. As she was paying for her fare to exit the bus, the driver said, "Boy, I sure 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, "Why do you say that you envy me?" The driver responded, "It must feel so good to be taken care of and protected like you are."
Susan had no idea what the driver was talking about, and replied, "What do you mean?"
The driver answered, "You know, every morning for the past week, a fine looking gentleman in a military uniform has been standing across the corner watching you when you get off the bus. He makes sure you cross the street safely and he watches you until you enter your office building. Then he blows you a kiss, gives you a little salute and walks away. You are one lucky lady." Tears of happiness poured down Susan's cheeks. For although she couldn't physically see him, she had always felt Mark's presence. He had given her a gift more powerful than sight, a gift she didn't need to see to believe - the gift of love that can bring light where there had been darkness. "Sometimes it's the unseen support that makesfor the biggest gifts of joy."
When God created woman he was working late on the 6th day..... An angel came by and said: “Why spend so much time on that one?” And the Lord answered:“Have you seen all the specifications I have to meet to shape her ?"“She must be washable, but not made of plastic, have more than 200 moving parts which all must be replaceable and she must function on all kinds of food, she must be able to embrace several kids at the same time, give a hug that can heal anything from a bruised knee to a broken heart and she must do all this with only two hands”. The angel was impressed.“Just two hands....impossible!“And this is the standard model?! “Too much work for one day....wait until tomorrow and then complete her“. “I will not”, said the Lord. “I am so close to completing this creation, which will be the favorite of my heart”. “She cures herself when sick and she can work 18 hours a day”. The angel came nearer and touched the woman. “But you have made her so soft, Lord” “She is soft", said the Lord, “But I have also made her strong. You can’t imagine what she can endure and overcome.“ “Can she think?" the angel asked.
The Lord answered:“Not only can she think, she can reason and negotiate." The angel touched the womans cheek.... “Lord, it seems this creation is leaking! You have put too many burdens on her.” “She is not leaking....it’s a tear” the lord corrected the angel “What’s it for?" asked the angel. And the Lord said: “Tears are her way of expressing grief, her doubts, her love, her loneliness, her suffering and her pride.” This made a big impression on the angel; “Lord, you are genius.You thought of everything. The woman is indeed marvellous!" Indeed she is! Woman has strengths that amazes man. She can handle trouble and carry heavy burdens.She holds happiness, love and opinions. She smiles when feeling like screaming. She sings when she feels like crying, cries when she is happy and laughs when she is afraid.She fights for what she belives in.Stand up against injustice.She doesn’t take “no” for an answer, when she can see a better solution. She gives herself so her family can thrive. She takes her friend to the doctor if she is afraid.Her love is unconditional. She cries when her kids are victorious. She is happy when her friends do well. She is glad when she hears of a birth or a wedding.Her heart is broken when a next of kin or friend dies.But she finds the strength to get on with life.She knows that a kiss and a hug can heal a broken heart. There is only one thing wrong with her She forgets what she is worth...
"One day, a small opening appeared on a cocoon; a man sat and watched for several hours as the butterfly struggled to force its body through that little hole. .
At one point,it appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and could not go any further.
So the man decided to help the butterfly: he took a pair of scissors and opened the cocoon.
The butterfly emerged easily.
But it had a withered body with tiny and shrivelled wings.
The man continued to watch because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would open, enlarge and expand, to be able to support the butterfly’s body, and become firm.
Nothing happened!!!!!!!
In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a withered body and shrivelled wings. It never was able to fly.
What the man, in his kindness and his goodwill did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening, were God’s way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings, so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon
Sometimes, struggles are exactly what we need in our life.
If God allowed us to go through our life without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as we could have been.
I asked for Strength...
And God gave me difficulties to make me strong.
I asked for Wisdom...
And God gave me Problems to solve.
I asked for prosperity...
And God gave me a Brain and Brawn to work.
I asked for Courage..
And God gave me obstacles to overcome.
I asked for Love...
And God gave me Troubled people to help
I asked for Favors...
And God gave me Opportunities.
“I received nothing I wanted...
But I received everything I needed."
Live life without fear, confront all obstacles and evince that you can overcome them.
