Sheila and Sarah Day 16

Sheila Day 16

I can see CLEARLY now . . . this week I discovered that even though the heart and mind are young and agile, the eyes are NOT!  It seems like almost overnight my once young 20/10 eyes decided that they were tired of all of the stress and strain that I put on them and they were taking a MUCH needed  break.  I caved and went in and visited the eye doctor, who was also a chaperone on one of my youth trips, we had a little catch up time, and then he affirmed what I was already certain of . . . I NEEDED BIFOCALS!  UGHHHHHHHH!  It was a double whammy because my once perfect eyes were much worse than even I had anticipated.  I ordered up a pair of multi-focal contacts, grumbled about my prescription, smiled, and was on my merry way.

Today, I went to Fargo, and with the help of Rah and a buddy, I picked out a very stylish pair of frames.  BONUS because I could get those bad girls in only an hour.  I am so tired of having a headache that that was certainly some of the best news that I have had for a long time!  In only one hour, I would FINALLY see clearly!  

Tick, tock, and it was time to go and pick up my new glasses.  Seriously, I thought I might giggle with pure joy at how much the strain was eased and my eyes almost seemed to be screaming THANK YOU, THANK YOU, AND SERIOUSLY, WHY WOULD YOU HURT US FOR SO LONG?  Now I have to admit that there will definitely be some adjustments as I have to move a little, adjust my position to find the right spot, and be a little careful when I look down because my feet appear to be moving differently than my brain thinks . . . I have to SHIFT things around to totally SEE CLEARLY, and if the shift does not happen, my perception is ALL MESSED UP!

Shifting to see clearly!  I love this idea that SHIFT has to HAPPEN to SEE clearly.  It is kind of weird, because there are A LOT of thing that this blog has taught me.  First, I used to feel that Christmas was kind of a sit all around the manger, sing some Christmas songs in Kum-bay-Ya style, and every is happy, happy, happy!  However, that is not the case.  The holidays are full of anticipations and disappointments.  We anticipate that something should shift the spirit and bring joy into the entire season.   Kiddos anticipate gifts they dream of having, but moms and dads are strapped financially and just cannot make them a reality.  We give gifts anticipating the response only to have them returned before the week is through.  We anticipate a certain kind of happiness,  BUT this idea kind of puts extra pressure on everyone to make it like a Norman Rockwell picture which makes you feel warm and fuzzy.  Often, our anticipation leaves us kind of empty as we search for the "reason for the season."

The REASON for the SEASON . . . God gave us a gift when he sent his son.  People anticipated that he was the king that would make things right.  They anticipated that HE would bring them the peace, hope, and joy that they needed in their lives.  BUT this was a different kind of king.  This was not kind that liked elaborate gifts, nor did he wear the robes of purple, and he certainly had little to no use for worldly possessions.  This king came to set them free, but simply put, they were not ready for the SHIFT to HAPPEN!  To shift requires us to look inside and realize that the only way we can we see that our VISION is not perfect.  We  need to recognize the need to change our lenses, and then and only then, can we alter our perspective and truly discover that the "reason for the season" actually lies within each of us as we open up our hearts to a God who works in the hearts and hands of humankind perfecting their vision.

Sarah Day 16

Today I was lucky to see several great things that I could write about if I wanted. The moment that I realized how much I love to chat with the mail man, who stops in my office everyday. The lady at the vet clinic who spoke so kindly to another woman's cat that was clearly not happy. Being able to spend some time with my mom who was hanging in town for the day with a friend. Going to the movie store for the first time in three years with Jesse, and picking out five movies even though we rarely have time to watch TV.  I could write a separate post for all of these things that I saw throughout my day, but I couldn't help but to write about a story I read today.

I read a story titled "Man Helping Injured Cat Inspires Others." Of course it's a cat story, because those are the best stories! The article was about a man in KY who couldn't avoid hitting a cat when it ran in the middle of the road. The man immediately went back when he saw that the cat was still breathing (but clearly injured,) picked it up and then brought it to the animal clinic. Shortly after, the man posted on the Lost Pets of Lexington, KY telling the story of what happened and looking for the cats owner. He continued to post updates of the cats status, and he also said that he would be taking on the cost of the veterinary bill. The cat had a broken pelvis and an injured jaw that needed emergency surgery.

It didn't take hardly any time at all for the story to go viral. Random strangers were making donations to help cover the vet costs, and others were sending their kind words and prayers. There was one line in the article that really caught my attention. It said "Ben Allen's actions have not only helped a cat; they have restored many people's faith in human decency, and have inspired some to help." These are the things that need to happen on a day to day basis for people to keep that faith in human decency.

What this man did is exactly what I would have done if the situation was mine. I would imagine that most of my family would also do the same thing. But I would be naieve to think that everyone would do the right thing. If someone runs over an animal, it seems like it should be a no-brainer to go back and check on that animal. Unfortunately, I believe that most people would take the easy way out, which would probably be one of three situations: Leaving the cat, shooting the cat, or running the cat over again. All three situations would more than likely result in the cat dying. I think that's what they call "the ugly truth."

I believe that when people do something so good like what this man did, it needs to be known. Not just the stories involving animals, but the stories that involving people too. Any story that has anything to do with an act of kindness like this, needs to be public in some way, shape or form. They need to be in the news, on websites, and/or in social media. They need to spread through word of mouth, and in blogs like ours. These stories absolutely need to be told in order for people to keep that faith in others. This guy is a hero for what he chose to do. This is a story that will open up many eyes out in the world to do the right thing when a terrible situation is unavoidable.