Update:
I am happy to report that my eye surgery went well on Tuesday
afternoon. The doctor’s office was
packed when I went in. It usually takes
about two hours of prep time prior to the 15 minutes of actual surgery. As busy as the office was, my surgery didn’t
even begin for over three hours. I was
more relaxed this time and not as stressed heading into the procedure. Prior to the surgery they tested my
vision. My vision in my right eye has
improved (since the injection and the surgery); the vision in my left eye is a
bit worse (the doctor expected this because I hadn’t had the surgery to help
reduce swelling yet). I am hoping that
my vision will continue to improve over time.
We’ll see. I was able to endure
the discomfort of the laser better this time around. I was sent home with a patch on my eye that I
kept on until Wednesday afternoon.
I ate a quick dinner and went straight to bed after arriving home following
the surgery. I got up for a short while
at 10 p.m., took some additional Tylenol, checked my blood sugar levels and
then went right back to bed. On
Wednesday, I didn’t do too much and tried not to over use my eyes. By afternoon I took the eye patch off and
once again found that I had no discernible vision loss following the surgery. Yeah! My
vision is still a bit blurry and my eyes are sensitive to bright lights (that
happened after last surgery as well). For a while on Wednesday everything had
kind of the 3-D movie glasses look.
Things are a bit more in focus now on Thursday morning.
I am glad to being back to two eyes again. I can read, work on the computer and watch TV
again. I found that with the eye patch
on, I don’t do so well going through doorways backwards in the wheelchair. The bathroom is too small to turn around in,
so I have to back out. Let’s just say
that I’ve knocked a lot of loose paint off the door frame…and we’ll leave it at
that.
While I was in the waiting room at the doctor’s office, an older lady
(75?) started talking to me. In her
non-stop soliloquy she said, “I can’t believe that I have to get monthly eye
injections! That is something that OLD
people do!” Since I get those injections
I thought, “Thanks lady, that makes me feel good about myself.” I guess it’s true, “you are only as old as
the procedures you get.” Ha Ha!
I have a follow-up appointment in two weeks with my retina
specialist. I think that the plan is to
evaluate my eyes and see if I am ready to undergo another round of laser eye
surgery that’s aimed at trying to improve my vision. The doctor told me previously that there were
no guarantees; but I am feeling hopeful after the outcome of this round of
surgeries. Thank you for your prayers!
I’ve got an appointment with my physical therapist this afternoon for learning
to use a cane. From what I gathered,
there might be a slow phase in process for me replacing my walker. It sounds like at first I will use the cane
at home and the walker when I am out (or the wheel chair for longer distances). I am making progress and that is so
encouraging.
Thought for the Day:
Why is it that when
someone has hurt or wronged us that we want to get pay back? There is a sense of justice built into us
that calls for the person who has done wrong to pay for what they have done to
us. We want to take matters into our own hands and even the score. However, the bible calls us to “forgive whatever grievances you may have against
one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Col 3:13 NIV).
In many ways that seems wrong. It is
unfair. It feels unjust. “Why should I let them get away with what
they have done to me? They’ve got it
coming.”
Why would God call us to forgive?
Why can’t we take matters into our own hands? Because we can easily exact too high a price
and then we are the ones who have done an injustice to another person. Also the desire for vengeance can consume
us. Until we deal with an offense by
forgiving the other person, just the very memory of that event can continue to
eat at us and can consume us.
Unforgiveness has been called the “cancer of the soul.” If left alone it
can fester and destroy a person from the inside out until their life is ruined
by it.
“How can it be fair that
the person gets away with what they have done?”
It is important to realize that no one ever gets away with
anything. Ultimately every person will
have to stand in judgment before God. We
can let people off the hook because no one ever escapes God’s hook.
Hebrews 9:27 “And
just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment” (ESV).
Romans 12:17-21 “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to
do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live
peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to
the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the
Lord.’ To the contrary, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give
him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his
head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (ESV).
The bible promises that there is a Judgment Day, so we can let go of the
payback that we feel others owe us. God
will take care of it for us. In essence,
He does the dirty work so that our souls don’t get soiled and polluted. So trust Him to do what He has said and let
God be God.
“If we are not sure that there will be a final judgment, then when we
are wronged, we will feel an almost irresistible compulsion to take up the
sword and smite the wrongdoers. But if
we know that no one will get away with anything, and that all wrongs will be
ultimately redressed, then we can live in peace” [Timothy Keller, Walking with
God Through Pain and Suffering].
If we don’t forgive and release others, we will eventually become
consumed by anger, rage, and bitterness for the things done against us,
especially for the things that we cannot redress. Here is a new twist to the old phrase, “Let
go and let God.” Ultimately there is no
criminal that gets away with his crime.
There is no person who has hurt or wronged another person who will not
answer for their offense.
And ultimately we should remember that in Christ, God has forgiven us
because Christ paid the penalty for all sins--for the sins we have committed,
and for the sins committed against us.
So although it wasn’t the person who committed the crimes, someone has
paid for the things done against you.
Therefore, let them go. Don’t
burden yourself with them. God
knows. God sees. God will never forget.
Ephesians 4:32 “…forgiving each other, just as God in Christ
also has forgiven you” (NAS).
PLEASE NOTE: This concept does not preclude action by our
Criminal Justice System (police, courts, prison, etc.). God gives this duty and power to punish crime
to the government; but not to individuals to carry out their own justice. What I am talking about today is a heart
issue—something you do for yourself.
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