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Cheryl Hughes: The Gift of Sight

My husband, Garey, and I have had our moments when we butted heads.  Occasionally, we still do, although those moments are fewer and farther between.  At the end of the day, however, we still stand together, because we want what’s best for one another.   We are what’s best for one another.

When I think on what is good and what is praiseworthy—as Philippians encourages us to do—I remember our trip to Cozumel, Mexico, years ago.  I think about my desire to see the beautiful fish and coral a few feet from shore in twenty-feet-deep water and the fear of drowning that kept me anchored to the shoreline.  I think about Garey strapping me into his BC vest (buoyancy control—SCUBA) then swimming out into the water with me in tow.  Fitted with his mask and snorkel, I was able to see what he had been seeing for years—the wonders my fears had prevented me from seeing.  That is the gift we give each other—the gift of sight.  We show each other what we see.

Early on, it was Garey who bore the burden of sight.  I came into our relationship very broken and very scared.  He pulled me out into the deep to show me there was more than hurt and fear in life.  There was beauty below the surface.  

As I grew stronger and less fearful, I ventured out into areas he was less sure of.  I showed him the way—push this button, type your name here, swipe right, arrow down.  Commands that struck fear in his heart the way deep water had in mine.  

“As soon as the beauty of a flower or a tree is impressed upon your soul it leaves an image there which reflects through your actions.” (A.J. Russell)  I think it’s the same with person to person.  We leave imprints on one another.

Recently, Garey’s  iPhone kept telling him it hadn’t backed up in two weeks.  I looked at the instructions on the screen, and thought I was following them, but I couldn’t seem to get the phone to back up.  One night Garey sat down with the phone and worked his way through the settings.  He came into the kitchen, plugged up the phone, and said, “I think I’ve figured it out.”  Between you and me, I thought the chances were slim to none that he had.  The next morning, lo and behold, his phone announced it had been successfully backed up.  I told him how proud I was of him for figuring it out on his own.

“Even a blind hog gets an acorn every now and then,” he said.  I’ve had a few blind hog moments myself.  They usually involve a power tool and a miracle, but I’m pleased with myself, nonetheless.  I think it’s because I’ve had the courage to try something outside my comfort zone that actually works out.  We have given each other permission to try and fail and become frustrated and to ask for help.

Today, Garey and I planted two almond trees.  He used the backhoe to dig the holes.  We placed the trees there together.  We added dirt and water and hope.  We are farmers at heart.  We’ve spent much of our lives adding dirt, water and hope.   We have the imprint of all those living things on our souls, but more importantly, we have the imprint of each other, as well as the ability to see what we have.  

 

 
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