...is truly amazing.
I don't think I have ever felt something so whole ad-mist my emptiness and sorrows. I've been in this state of loneliness as of lately because I want to feel something I've forgotten how to feel. I cried myself to sleep last night thinking about how much I truly wanted to be in that "state of euphoria" again, where I felt loved and I was in love. I just miss having the feeling that someone would always be there to comfort you when you need them... I missed feeling happy and whole inside. I think about it all the time and I wonder if my heart shut out every single person trying to come in...
Today was different, though. I went on about my day the same way I always go about upon doing things... wake up, brush my teeth, dress up, eat breakfast, go to school, work, then the gym. However, there was a special mission mass going on at church today and there will be two more tomorrow. I was curious about it so I decided to go. I met a priest who told us a story. It went as follows:
"There was a boy about the age of 9 and he was a child of 22 children... #17 down the line. One evening, this boy caught meningitis and was sent to the hospital. He slipped into a coma and the doctors told his family to stop giving treatment because they told his parents the boy was going to die in a few days. They told his parents that even if this boy lived, he would become a vegetable and not be able to walk or see. After three months, the boy woke up from the coma just in time for Christmas. The doctors were wondering how the parents could be so happy because he could not move or see... one even asked:
"How could you be happy this boy is alive? His life will be completely worthless! He won't be anything but a vegetable! He will never be able to live a normal life like everyone else!"
The parents disregarded this and rejoiced their child was home. They knew the doctors would not be able to help this boy walk again. During that time he was home, his 21 siblings would line up down the hallway passing him down one by one until he could learn to move his legs and walk again. With their determination, they taught him how to walk. He still could not see, however. He never saw airplanes flying overhead and whatever was in front of him. The boy was sent to many specialists around the area and not one of these doctors could help him. They all said that nothing could be done. One day, the doctor was in their home treating his sister when he screamed from outside on the porch. He said:
"MOMMY! Look! It's an airplane!!!"
His parents ran outside, looking at him in disbelief. His mother doubted him... until he pointed to the exact location to where the airplane was. The doctor became annoyed and took a deck of cards one of the other siblings were playing with and showed each and every card to this boy. He told the doctor every single card that appeared, going through the whole deck... and not one mistake was made.
This boy's vision was brought back... not to the full extent, but he could see through what was known as "tunnel vision," where he could only see through a pin-point hole. The doctors called it a miracle. He was blessed to have his sight back, even for only a little bit. After many teachers fought for him, he was allowed to go to a public school and learn with "normal" students. He ended up graduating with straight A's, going to college, graduating with high honors, and becoming a teacher. No one wanted to hire him because he was blind... until one boarding school gave him a chance.
He taught those children English for three years without ever telling them he could not see more than one student at a time. He spent most of his time at the library and became fascinated by library work... consuming his time there and eventually going back to school to get his masters in becoming a librarian. During his time studying in the library, he found out about books that were on audio... and this upset him because no one ever told him he never needed to read books letter by letter. From then on, he didn't go back to the boarding school to open up the library. Instead, he became a missionary."
This story was the story of the priest who spoke to us. He was legally blind and could not see anything other than slight blurs. I was so touched by his testimony because it really shows the world how God works to help us... in both big and small ways. Father Pat was saved through his faith, just as the blind man was healed of his infirmities because of his faith in God. Life's lessons of others really help me learn about faith and how God helps us all. Hope you learned a little something too. :)
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