Learning to be Content

Learning to be Content

Good morning. I am up and so is the sun. I know because it is shining brightly through my window. What a beautiful day to be alive. Many of us woke up this morning without thinking about why we were even given another day.

I woke up thinking God for just remembering me and allowing we to see such clear blue skies and asking Him to order my steps all day long. In a world that has gone topsy turvy, I am always grateful that some things just NEVER change. The Bible. The sun. The moon. The stars. Because of this, I always have my center. I pray that I never take them for grant and that I always remember that one day I may not be able to see them.

So each day, I wrap each in my heart. I enjoy the daylight. I look forward to the night. I feel blessed when I see a sunrise, and I am absolutely amazed when I see the sunset. In my lifetime I ha never seen two of either that were the same.

When I got my eye injection on Monday, my doctor told me that when we first started on this journey, there was the possibility of me being blind in six months. That was in September of 2011. As he noted, I am still seeing and reading and driving and taking in all of God's beauty almost five years later.

I asked him if there was any improvement, and he respond with yes and no. Yes, I can see very well, and there were people in this world that would love to have my current vision. He also stated that there was no reason for me to worry about being able to continue to drive. My sight was good, and he would sign off on that with the MVA. On the other hand, I have oracular degeneration, and at this time, there is nothing that can restore that. In another three years maybe the science will catch up and help me. Right now, his job is to keep my current sight stable so that when the science catches up I will be a prime candidate.

The prospect of going blind can be devastating, but it can also lead to a better understanding and appreciation of the world around you. Many of us have heard that we should stop and smell the flowers or coffee. I say we should pick a few flowers, and drink some of the coffee. Life is short on many levels, and I have come to realize that you do not have to be dead for your quality of life to be forever gone.

Picture this for a moment. You have twenty-twenty vision in both eyes even though you wear eyeglasses. Suddenly you can see the words, but you cannot for the life of you make out the letters, or you can only make out the ones on both ends -- nothing in the middle. Then one day, you learn that there is no cure for what is going on in your eyes. The only thing that you can wait for is complete sight loss.

Here are some of the things that may cross your mind, they did mind.
Never being able to drive again.
Total darkness for the rest of your life.
Stumbling through your house and not knowing what part of your are in.
Never seeing a tree, a flower, oh wait, can't see your children, grandchildren, etc.
Feeling your way to the bathroom at 3:00 in the morning.
No more pictures except those in your mind.
No more being totally independent and the list goes on.
ALL of the things we do every day without thinking about them.

Here are a few more things that crossed my mind.
People with other illnesses face many of these same crises in their lives, and yet they find a way to LIVE through them.
Being blind is not a death sentence, but a new challenge.
Instead of looking at what you will be losing, start thinking about what you will be gaining.
In every dark cloud, there is a silver lining -- rain to water the garden, grow plants, provide drinking water, and a host of other good things.

Finally, I suggest that there is a place for contentment -- acceptance.
Begin planning for that moment.
Learn where you are and if it is not the right place then prepare to downsize and move.
Get rid of some of the clutter -- people need some of that stuff you have not used in years -- yard sale!
Let others know that you may need help in the future and start looking for that right person to help you get through your crisis now and in the future.

Whatever it is that you are going through just know that you are not the first nor the last and that it is up to you to make the best of your situation.

IF YOU HAVE NEVER TRULY LIVED, maybe it is time for you to do just that. There will never be a better time.

WOW! This was long, but it was in my heart. Most will not read all of this, and that is perfectly alright. The one person that really needs this today will read it or maybe just wrote it! It is my hope that it will bring clarity and purpose to their lives and thoughts.

I took one of those little crazy Facebook test yesterday, and it stated that I was content with where I am in life. I could not agree more. I am exactly where I should be. Where I am is where God would have me, and I am perfectly in tune with that. May you the reader of this piece find your inner peace and purpose. May it leave you feeling good, hopeful, purposeful and content.

As always, PEACE and BLESSINGS!