Sight
I’ve had glasses (bifocals to be exact) since I was two.
I have a little condition called strabismus, which is a misalignment of the eyes. In my case, one eye always points in toward my nose, while the other remains focused straight ahead. Sometimes, I can even switch around which eye is crossed and which isn’t. It’s one of my only party tricks.
My parents have a picture somewhere of me sitting in my dad’s armchair at five, in a t-shirt, tutu, tap shoes, and reading a book upside down. In fact, most pictures of me growing up show me reading or with a book close by. Clearly my misaligned eyes never stopped me from devouring the written word like a tray of fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies.
In general, I have pretty good vision; if it weren’t for the crossed eye, I likely wouldn’t need glasses at all. But in a much more real, damaging sense, sometimes my vision is terrible.
Social vision, I mean. And emotional. Especially when it comes to my words.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said something I didn’t mean or think about and immediately regretted it. Or, even worse, meant it, knew it was wrong or bad, and said it anyway. In those moments, I’m blind—to my situation, to those around me, and maybe even their emotions—and regain my sight only when it’s too late.
We can’t take our words back once they’re out there, but I believe God uses everything we go through to help us grow in wisdom, maturity, compassion, and understanding. Fortunately and unfortunately, hindsight and humility are excellent fertilizers.
Ephesians 4:29 (NIV) says,
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
While we may never hit this goal 100%, I believe that it becomes easier with age and practice. O God, as I grow, grant me the vision to put down the verbal shovel before digging myself into any more holes in the future! Set a guard over my mouth, Lord.
Thank God He’s an excellent gardener and knows exactly how to use everything we think, say, and do to help us grow closer and closer to the Son.
