John 15:13 (ESV)
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down
his life for his friends.
Although this story is fictional, it is meaningful,
nonetheless.
There once was a girl who hated herself. You see, she had
become blind in her early teens from a rare disease. Not only did she hate
herself but she hated everyone else too. She was angry at the world, angry at
God, angry at everyone.
There was one person, however, who had known her for
years and stood by her side through all this. It was her childhood friend, who
loved her ever since grade school. Now in their 20’s, he wanted to marry her.
One day he worked up the nerve to ask her for her hand in
marriage. Her reply was that if she could only see the world, she would marry
him.
Soon after, someone donated a pair of eyes and she went
to surgery to have her malfunctioning ones replaced. It was a miracle. After a
few weeks, she took off her bandages and she could see once again. And who was
standing by her side, as always? Of course, it was the man who loved her.
"Now that you can see the world, he said, “Will you
marry me?" The girl was shocked to discover that he too was blind, and
sadly, still refused his hand in marriage. Undeniably, he was devastated.
Sometime later, she received a letter from him, sharing
his undying love for her. He signed it, "Please, my love, just take care
of my eyes."
A sweet story. But few of us remember what life was
like when we were yet blind to the truth of our salvation in Jesus -- and who
to thank for their labor in love and prayer and boldness in sharing that truth
with us, no?
Let’s never forget where we came from and those who gave
of themselves so willingly for the opening of our eyes. And let’s also strive
to be the kind of people who are willing to lay down our life for a friend.
Dear Lord, help us be your eyes to those around us. Help
Your love flow through us so that the world may see You when they see us. In the
Name of Jesus, Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment