The Presence of His Love
The passengers on the bus watched sympathetically as the attractive young woman with
the white cane made her way carefully up the steps. She paid the driver and, using her
hands to feel the location of the seats, walked down the aisle and found the seat he'd
told her was empty. Then she settled in, placed her briefcase on her lap and rested her
cane against her leg.
It had been a year since Susan, 34, became blind. Due to a medical misdiagnosis she
had been rendered sightless, and she was suddenly thrown into a world of darkness, anger,
frustration and self-pity. Once a fiercely independent woman, Susan now felt condemned by
this terrible twist of fate to become a powerless, helpless burden on everyone around her.
"How could this have happened to me?" she would plead, her heart knotted
with anger. But no matter how much she cried or ranted or prayed, she knew the painful
truth her sight was never going to return. A cloud of depression hung over Susan's once
optimistic spirit. Just getting through each day was an exercise in frustration and
exhaustion. And all she had to cling to was her husband Mark.
Mark was an Air Force officer and he loved Susan with all of his heart. When she first
lost her sight, he watched her sink into despair and was determined to help his wife gain
the strength and confidence she needed to become independent again. Mark's military
background had trained him well to deal with sensitive situations, and yet he know this
was the most difficult battle he would ever face.
Finally, Susan felt ready to return to her job, but how would she get there? She used
to take the bus, but was now too frightened to get around the city by herself. Mark
volunteered to drive her to work each day, even though they worked at opposite ends of the
city. At first, this comforted Susan and fulfilled Mark's need to protect his sightless
wife who was so insecure about performing the slightest task.
Soon, however, Mark realized that this arrangement wasn't working - it was hectic, and
costly. Susan is going to have to start taking the bus again, he admitted to himself. But
just the thought of mentioning it to her made him cringe. She was still so fragile, so
angry. How would she react?
Just as Mark predicted, Susan was horrified at the idea of taking the bus again.
"I'm blind!" she responded bitterly. "How am I supposed to know where I'm
going? I feel like you're abandoning me."
Mark's heart broke to hear these words, but he knew what had to be done. He promised
Susan that each morning and evening he would ride the bus with her, for as long as it
took, until she got the hang of it. And that is exactly what happened.
For two solid weeks, Mark, military uniform and all, accompanied Susan to and from
work each day. He taught her how to rely on her other senses, specifically her hearing, to
determine where she was and how to adapt to her new environment. He helped her befriend
the bus drivers who could watch out for her, and save her a seat. He made her laugh, even
on those not-so-good days when she would trip exiting the bus, or drop her
briefcase.
Each morning they made the journey together, and Mark would take a cab back to his
office. Although this routine was even more costly and exhausting than the previous one,
Mark knew it was only a matter of time before Susan would be able to ride the bus on her
own. He believed in her, in the Susan he used to know before she'd lost her sight, who
wasn't afraid of any challenge and who would never, ever quit.
Finally, Susan decided that she was ready to try the trip on her own. Monday
morning arrived, and before she left, she threw her arms around Mark, her temporary bus
riding companion, her husband, and her best friend. Her eyes filled with tears of
gratitude for his loyalty, his patience, his love. She said good-bye, and for the first
time, they went their separate ways.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday . . . each day on her own went perfectly, and
Susan had never felt better. She was doing it! She was going to work all by herself!
On Friday morning, Susan took the bus to work as usual. As she was paying for her fare
to exit the bus, the driver said, "Boy, I sure envy you."
Susan wasn't sure if the driver was speaking to her or not. After all, who on earth
would ever envy a blind woman who had struggled just to find the courage to live for the
past year?
Curious, she asked the driver, "Why do you say that you envy me?"
The driver responded, "It must feel so good to be taken care of and protected
like you are."
Susan had no idea what the driver was talking about, and asked again, "What do
you mean?"
The driver answered, "You know, every morning for the past week, a fine looking
gentleman in a military uniform has been standing across the corner watching you when you
get off the bus. He makes sure you cross the street safely and he watches you until you
enter your office building. Then he blows you a kiss, gives you a little salute and walks
away. You are one lucky lady."
Tears of happiness poured down Susan's cheeks. For although she couldn't physically
see him, she had always felt Mark's presence. She was lucky, so lucky, for he had given
her a gift more powerful than sight, a gift she didn't need to see to believe - the gift
of love that can bring light where there had been darkness.
God watches over us in just the same way. We may not know He is present. We may not be
able to see His face, but He is there nonetheless! Be blessed in this thought: "God
Loves You - even when you are not looking."
"For thus says the Lord of hosts, 'After
glory He has sent me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you,
touches the apple of His eye.'" Zechariah 2:8
"My God is changeless in His love for me and
He will come and help me." Psalm 59:10
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