Thank you Ned for that example.  I really appreciated it.  Kathy


At 05:18 PM 1/27/2006, you wrote:
>Kathy,
>I under what you are saying about you situation of blindness and wanting
>sight.  In 1970, while I was pastoring the Cleveland Avenue Christian CHurch
>in southeast Atlanta, I had a cornea transplant. I had been praying for some
>time asking the Lord to give me sight that I might serve Him better. There
>were many other Christians in many states that were praying with me.  I was,
>at that time, a member of a christian network on Amateur radio and met with
>many preachers and other christians each morning on the radio. The time
>came, I received the call and rushed to the hospital.  They had acquired a
>cornea and were ready to do the surgery.  I p[rayed so hard for sight but I
>told the Lord that I realized that I didn't know the future and I knew He
>did.  I told Him that if I could be a better servant without sight then
>please don't give it to me. Everything went extremely well and I was, after
>the surgery, able to see far more light and color than before and to see it
>from a much greater distance.  Later, maybe more than a year later, while
>lifting weights with a friend of mine three times a week, I hemorhaged in
>the left eye and subsequently lost all my potential vision.  I was told by
>my doctor that when the eye hemorhaged, it started to degenerate and the
>optic nerve had died. So, I took it that I could serve Him better without
>sight.  I know of many times when people have been blessed by people with
>handicapps or disabilities.  I remember, too, that the apostle Paul said
>that God told him when he ask for the removal of his "thorn in the flesh"
>"My strength is made known in your weakness.  I believe that people see
>those who have some limitation or disability gladly serving God and giving
>Him the glory for all they are and have and they are encouraged.
>God can certainly use you and any of us with our blindness to be a real
>blessing and encouragement to many.
>
>Ned