"I am on the edge of losing it -the pain in my gut keeps burning. I'm ready to
tell my story of failure . . . (Psalms 38: 17, 18a, MSG)
Grade 1 was far better than Kindergarten in terms of understanding that strange
language they all called “Dutch”, still I didn't understand everything. Though I
did my best and even ended up with a passing grade, my teacher insisted on
meeting with my mom and dad to recommend that I repeat my year.
I was devastated. I had worked so hard, I had passed all my tests, yet even so,
I was considered a failure. I was horrified that my parents actually agreed with
my teacher. Can you imagine failing grade 1? How embarrassing!
Unfortunately, my grades didn’t improve in my second year in grade 1. I was
petrified that my teacher would insist on me repeating my year yet again. When
would it end? I could already imagine a fifty year old still in grade 1. Horror
of horrors! This time, however, the teacher did not say anything, and I was
somehow promoted to grade 2. Hurray!
A few months later, a medical doctor came to my school to check the health and
eyesight of all grade 2 students. He discovered that I was extremely
nearsighted. One eye hardly saw anything, the other eye was so weak that there
was no way I could read anything written on the blackboard. Only then did
everyone finally realize why I was so weak in academics. It wasn’t because I was
stupid; I simply didn’t do well in school because I couldn't see properly!
A week later, I came to school with my first pair of coke bottles. The lenses
were heavy, but at least I could see; and imagine everyone’s surprise when I
suddenly began excelling in school.
After I got my first pair of glasses, I remembered back to the day my dad
brought home a black and white television set. I had my own plastic chair, and I
placed it within a meter of the TV. My parents insisted that I should sit 5
meters from the TV. I remember not being able to see anything, and soon after
that, I gave up on TV completely. Boring!
The day I received my first pair of glasses changed my life completely. From
being a pauper, I was promoted to the world of the living. I felt like royalty.
I could see. I could really see! I was fascinated by the colorful world I lived
in, and I wanted to learn anything and everything about it. No longer was I a
failure, and all because a doctor took the time to check the health of grade 2
students. He certainly changed my life. He was the only one who really
understood what I was going through. I owe my life to that doctor. Thank you,
thank you. Instead of being put down all the time, I finally had a new chance at
life.
No matter where you are, God comes through for you as well. You are no failure.
God created you for way more than you may think. After all, if He was willing to
die for you, He truly has plans for you to experience victory: "Before I shaped
you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had
built plans for you . . . (Jer 1: 5a, MSG)
With such a caring Heavenly Father, we can now say: "And me? I plan on looking
you full in the face. When I get up, I'll see your full stature and live heaven
on earth.” (Psalms 17:15, MSG)
By the way, do you need a pair of glasses?
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
messages. HTML and plain text versions available.
The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.