“SIGHT!”

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 691

July 9, 2024///

Today I want to share a story I read in a book. It drove home a very basic truth that we would do well to take to heart!

“Two women went to an opera together. One could see and the other was blind. They sat side by side in the same row of the theater for the entire performance.

When the show was over, they compared notes, as theater goers will do.

The sighed woman was very disappointed. She criticized the costumes and scenery-not to her taste at all. The soprano, she thought, was not very pretty and rather old for the part. The male lead was too short, she said, and did not look anything like a prince. It ruined the romance of the story for her.

The blind woman, however, had thoroughly enjoyed the evening. She said it was the most wonderful performance she had ever attended. She found the voice of the soprano as clear and pure as an angel’s, and the tenor’s rendition of the romantic arias had brought tears to her eyes. She told her friend she would remember this night for the rest of her life and thanked her endlessly for taking her along.”

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Which of these are we most like, do you think? The sighted women or the blind one!

We get so wrapped in in the material wrapping paper, we are entirely blind to the beauty within each other.

We are deaf to the good and great that each of us is filled with!

The blind woman saw the performance the way God sees each of us. Not what we wear, the imperfection of our bodies and actions, and even our personalities! But He sees the light within, the real us, the us He created us to be!

We need to look for the good in others and encourage the good and not dwell on the mistakes or bad actions.

It reminds me of the account in the bible when God sent the prophet Smauel to anoint the next king of Israel!

He visited a man who had 8 sons but had only 7 in the house when Samuel came. The other one was left out watching the sheep. But Smauel said none of these are the one I have come to anoint. They sent for David, the youngest who we all know as a mighty warrior and king.

God saw a king where others saw a shepherd boy.

The scripture in 1 Samuel 16:7 where this event is told, gives us God’s perspective on people and the perspective we should have.

1 Samuel 16:7 (KJV)

But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

1 Samuel 16:7 (MSG)

But God told Samuel, “Looks aren’t everything. Don’t be impressed with his looks and stature. I’ve already eliminated him. God judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; God looks into the heart.”

I encourage you today to examine how you see people. Determine with me to resolve to see the best in people.

May our kindness and love override the hate and ugly in this world!

God see what a person can be! Do we? Maybe just a kind word will change the direction of a life! Let’s try it!

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Father, I come in the name of Jesus and ask you to forgive us when we look at the outward actions and appearance of others and judge them by that. Open our hearts and minds to see past the outside to the depths of those around us! To the good buried beneath the hurts and confusion of others! Fill us with your compassion and let us see clearly the good in other! Amen!

Love, MeMaw!