The Blindness That Blesses

A man married a very beautiful wife. He loved her very much.

One day his wife developed a skin disease. Slowly she began to lose her beauty. She became depressed because she did not want her husband to see her in her ugly condition. She prayed for God to help her.

It so happened that one day, her husband left for a work assignment in another state. While returning home, he met with an accident and lost his eyesight. It was tragic but it seemed to answer the wife's prayer.

Their married life continued happily as before. Even though the wife continued to lose her beauty, she did not worry too much about it. After all, her blind husband couldn't see her face or appreciate whatever beauty that was left. She was no longer depressed.

The husband found a home-based online business and he spent more time with the wife. The wife helped him in the business by reading all the online orders that came in. The husband did the packing of products that needed to be mailed to the customers.

The husband continued to love the wife deeply in spite of the fact that his wife's diseased skin had made her really ugly.

The wife took little notice of her deteriorating physical condition but continued to take good care of her husband.

She was his eyes and in most evenings, they sat close together at the balcony of their townhouse, as she described the activities of the street below for him to appreciate.

Many years later, the wife passed away. Her death brought the husband much sorrow. He missed her so badly.

At her funeral, a good mutual friend asked him what would he do without his wife to help him now... since his blindness was such a handicap to him.

He turned and looked at the friend in the eyes and said, "I am actually not competely blind. I can still see quite clearly in spite of the accident. I was acting as though I was totally blind. The reason is that if my sweetheart was to know that l could see her ugliness, it would have pained her more than her disease.

During our time together, she had never mentioned about her ugliness. She really thought that I could not see her skin condition.

I love her much more than her physical beauty and moreover, she was such a good wife. I believe that she was happy till the day she passed away.

One day, when I see her in heaven, my darling will not only be beautiful inside but she will be gorgeous outside too."

Moral of the story:- *In order to be a blessing to the people you love, it is good for you to act blind and ignore their shortcomings. You will not only bring harmony to your relationship but also great joy to the one you love. God bless you as you learn to become 'blind'*

Author unknown

Adapted by Albert Kang

The Patrick Henry Hughes Story

They introduced the young musician. Welcome...Mr. Patrick Henry Hughes. He was rolled onto the stage in his wheelchair, and began to play the piano. His fingers danced across the keys as he made beautiful music.

He then began to sing as he played, and it was even more beautiful. For some reason, however, I knew that I was seeing something special. There was this aura about him that I really can't explain and the smile...his smile was magic!

About ten minutes into Patrick's performance, someone came on the stage and said..."I'd like to share a seven-minute video titled, The Patrick Henry Hughes story." And the lights went dim.

Patrick Henry Hughes was born with no eyes, and a tightening of the joints which left him crippled for life. However, as a child, he was fitted with artificial eyes and placed in a wheelchair. Before his first birthday, he discovered the piano. His mom said, "I could hit any note on the piano, and within one or two tries, he'd get it." By his second birthday, he was playing requests (You Are My Sunshine, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star). His father was ecstatic. "We might not play baseball, but we can play music together."

Today, Patrick is a junior at the University of Louisville. His father attends classes with him and he's made nearly all A's, with the exception of 3 B's. He's also a part of the 214-member marching band. You read it right...the marching band! He's a blind, wheelchair-bound trumpet player; and he and his father do it together. They attend all the band practices and the half-time performance in front of thousands. His father rolls and rotates his son around the field to the cheers of Patrick's fans. In order to attend Patrick's classes and every band practice, his father works the graveyard shift at UPS. Patrick said..."My dad's my hero."

But even more than his unbelievable musical talent, it was Patrick's "attitude of gratitude" that touched my soul. On stage, between songs, he would talk to the audience about his life and about how blessed he was. He said, "God made me blind and unable to walk. BIG DEAL! He gave me the ability...the musical gifts I have...the great opportunity to meet new people."

When his performance was over, Patrick and his father were on the stage together. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered for over five minutes. It gave me giant goose bumps!

Healthy Doubts

Healthy Doubts

"But the people of Beroea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and gladly listened to the message. They searched the Scriptures day by day to check up on Paul and Silas' statements to see if they were really so."¹

John Henri Fabre, the French naturalist, conducted an interesting experiment with some processional caterpillars, which are called by this name because they blindly follow each other, one behind another.

Fabre placed caterpillar food in the center of a flower pot and placed caterpillars end to end so they formed a complete circle around the edge of the pot. Round and around they went for seven days and nights until they dropped dead of starvation and exhaustion. With all the food they needed only a few inches away, they starved themselves to death.

Sad to say some people are like these caterpillars that blindly follow a leader never questioning what he says or teaches. This is especially noticeable in false cults but it can be equally true in any church or religious group, especially where legalism still exists. It can also be true in secular leadership including the political realm. It is imperative to know what the leaders we are following stand for and where they are leading us.

Imagine questioning the Apostle Paul, the most powerful leader in the early church. But the Christians in Beroea did and made sure that what he was teaching was in line with God's Word. And they were commended for it.

It is important that we, too, learn to study and know the Scriptures for ourselves and question everything we are taught to make sure it is what God's Word, the Bible, teaches. In other words, while we need to respect our leaders, we need to make God's Word our "final voice of authority" and not the word of man no matter how high his position is or how appealing his words.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to be open to truth/s I have not yet seen or been aware of—and help me to make sure that all I am taught is in harmony with your Word. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Acts 17:11 (TLB)(NLT).

<:))))><

By Dick Innes

Seeing Jesus Face-to-Face

Seeing Jesus Face-to-Face

When William Montague Dyke was ten years old, he was blinded in an accident. Despite his disability, William graduated from a university in England with high honors. While he was in school, he fell in love with the daughter of a high-ranking British naval officer, and they became engaged.

Not long before the wedding, William had eye surgery in the hope that the operation would restore his sight. If it failed, he would remain blind for the rest of his life. William insisted on keeping the bandages on his face until his wedding day. If the surgery was successful, he wanted the first person he saw to be his new bride.

The wedding day arrived. The many guests—including royalty, cabinet members, and distinguished men and women of society—assembled together to witness the exchange of vows. William's father, Sir William Hart Dyke, and the doctor who performed the surgery stood next to the groom, whose eyes were still covered with bandages. The organ trumpeted the wedding march, and the bride slowly walked down the aisle to the front of the church.

As soon as she arrived at the altar, the surgeon took a pair of scissors out of his pocket and cut the bandages from William's eyes.

Tension filled the room. The congregation of witnesses held their breath as they waited to find out if William could see the woman standing before him. As he stood face-to-face with his bride-to-be, William’s words echoed throughout the cathedral, "You are more beautiful than I ever imagined!"
         
One day the bandages that cover our eyes will be removed. When we stand face-to-face with Jesus Christ and see His face for the very first time, His glory will be far more splendid than anything we have ever imagined in this life.

(Kent Crockett, Making Today Count for Eternity, Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers, 2001, pp. 101-102)

Change Your Words And You Will Change Your World

A blind old man sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He had a sign which read: "I am blind. Please Help." There were only a few coins in the tin can.

When a lady came walking by, she stopped and backtracked. She looked disapprovingly at the sign, took it and wrote some words on the back. She put the sign back where it was, so that everyone who walked by would see the new words.

Soon the hat began to fill up. Many more people were giving money to the blind man.

That afternoon the lady who had changed the sign came to see how things were going. The blind man recognized the sound of her high heels and asked, "Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?"

The lady said, "I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way. I wrote: 'Today is a beautiful day, but I cannot see it.'"

Both signs told people the same thing... that the old man was blind. But the first sign simply said the man was blind. The second sign told people they were extremely fortunate that they were not blind. Should we be surprised that the second sign was more effective?

Moral of the Story:
Be thankful for what you have.
Be creative. Be innovative. Think differently and positively.

When life gives you a reason to cry, show life that you have 100 reasons to smile. Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear.

Keep the faith and drop the fear... just remember God is Near! 

Watch the video here

The Blinds and Colors

The people who are blind since birth cannot appreciate colors! There is nothing you can use to make the comparison for them to comprehend. 

Similarly, the spiritually blinds are not be able to appreciate the beauty of our Lord. You cannot force them to 'see'. Let the Holy Spirit open their eyes first then they will see!

Rev Albert Kang

I Am Blind, Please Help!

A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which said: "I am blind, please help." There were only a few coins in the hat.

A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words. Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy.

That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, "Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?"

The man said, "I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way." I wrote: "Today is a beautiful day but I cannot see it."


Both signs told people that the boy was blind. But the first sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign told people that they were so lucky that they were not blind. Should we be surprised that the second sign was more effective? Moral of the Story: Be thankful for what you have.. Be creative. Be innovative. Think differently and positively. When life gives you a 100 reasons to cry, show life that you have 1000 reasons to smile. Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear. Keep the faith and drop the fear. The most beautiful thing is to see a person smiling... And even more beautiful is knowing that you are the reason behind it!