What's On Your Agenda Next, Lord? | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: What's On Your Agenda Next, Lord? | Previous Challenge Entry
By Laura Manley
10/15/09
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I met Beverly just after her husband went Home to be with the Lord almost seven years ago. She is one of the most dedicated Christian women I know with a deep love for the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, church is where I met Beverly. Today, she is my best friend, a confidante, and a mentor. She is also blind.

When I met her, Beverly told me of an eye stroke she experienced five years prior which left her blind in her right eye. The church we attended was a good half hour away from the area in which we lived and because of her poor sight, I became the designated driver at night. She still drove herself to the grocery store, doctor visits, etc. but never any freeway driving nor after dark.

Beverly would be the first to tell you that she is tenacious about taking care of herself and she did not fall short in that area when it came to her eyesight. She has always seen her Ophthalmologist on a regular basis and continues to do so today.

In August of this year, Beverly and I went to the Sunday night service at our church. That particular evening, the teen leader was showing photos on the large screen at the front of the auditorium of events from the teen's annual summer camp. We walked in and sat down in a pew not quite as close to the front where we normally sit. Beverly mentioned to me that she was having trouble seeing the photos, and since this was an informal gathering before the evening service, we got up and moved closer to the front.

So often, even as well as I think I know my best friend, she keeps things to herself. She is not a complainer and to that end, there are times when I have no idea something is amiss. That was the case in this instance.

I talk to my friend every day, whether it be by phone or in person. It was not until a couple of days after we had attended the photo showing at our church that she told me something was very seriously wrong. She had called her Ophthalmologist and they wanted her to come in immediately. In fact, they advised her then that she should have come in when she initially had the blurry vision she had been experiencing.

As I often have over the years, I drove her to the appointment and was able to be with her when her Ophthalmologist gave her a thorough exam. His conclusion was that she had a blood clot behind the retina of her left eye. He performed one test at that time and immediately scheduled an appointment with a specialist to see her.

Beverly met with the specialist and had several tests relating to her eye. At the end of that day, she was advised there was nothing surgically that could be done. Bev took the news graciously as I knew she would, but I knew she had a lot to overcome. At the end of the visit that day, the specialist injected her eye. I don't understand the entire process or what was used in the injection, so I won't pretend that I do. I do know that I cried when my friend went through the procedure and I sat praying for her to stay calm in the Lord.

Shortly after all this happened, I went out of town for a few days. After my return, I visited Beverly. I found her to be in good spirits, talking and laughing as we have for several years. Why she waited until I was leaving to tell me something that was music to my ears, I do not know. Just as we said our goodbyes, in an almost matter-of-fact way, Bev told me that while I had been out of town, she began to see color. The first color she saw was blue. Since then, she has been able to see bright colors, although whatever color she sees, Beverly still sees only the form of shadows.

The day Bev revealed she had seen the color blue was a day for rejoicing! She saw blue; we both saw, and still see, hope!

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