Poverty lives right down the road. She is my friend. She works without end to care for her family. She is younger than me, but seems much older. She has lived far more life than I can imagine. She smiles and laughs, but in her eyes I see pain. At 32 years old, her vision is blurry. She has cataracts. Through the haze she labors on in hopes of one day earning enough to pay for her surgery.
I add it up. At the rate she is going it will take her more than 3 years to earn enough for the mere $200 it costs for a life-changing surgery. I think. I pray. $200 is really nothing to me. By US standards we are poor, 5 children on a meager salary, but over here we are the extremely wealthy. The uber-rich. But, it is always an interesting dance, giving money. We want to be careful not to enable others, make them dependent. In this case, we decide to go ahead.
I gather friends to join me in paying and praying for the surgery, not because I couldn’t do it myself, but because there is joy in joining together for a common cause. Joy in community.
The night of the surgery finally arrives. Even though she does not share our faith, we join together and pray over her. We tell her of Jesus healing the blind man, and how he can heal soul-blindness. One friend slips cards with Bible verses into her hands. She grips the cards as we make our way to the doctor. We wait. She is visibly shaking, so we pray. Her eyes fill with tears as she thanks me for being such a good friend. My eyes fill with tears thinking of all the pain she has endured in her life, and how she is blind in more ways than one.
Finally at midnight, she emerges with bandages and in pain. We drive home in darkness and silence.
Over the next few weeks, we shower her with meals and help. Recovery is slow and painful.
Weeks pass. One day I hear her at the front door. She tells me that she can see!! The bandages are gone, the stitches are out. Her eye is healed!!
I smile at her through tears. Tears of joy at the success of the surgery, and tears of hope, that one day she might really see.
By Joy Forney, Grace Full Mama
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Kristen says
To see your lovely face and read your beautiful story here? It makes me, well, joyful! Oh-so!
What a gift you have of bringing us into your world, showing us the Hope found in difficulty and suffering. The way you radiate Jesus through every word and action – just like that you described above – makes others want to know Him, too. And you make *me* thrilled to know you. You are the real deal and a thousand kinds of wonderful.
Happiest of Mondays to you, friend! xoxo
Joy says
Thank you dear, sweet Kristen. You are a blessing and I am so thankful for you!!
Poverty Lives Right Down the Road | Grace Full Mama says
[…] join me over at (in)courage today to hear the rest of the […]
Kris says
Praying with you that her heart heals as her eye has, that she is able to finally *see* the one who goves us grace and heals all of our wounds. What a story you are living. What a beautiful, life changing story you expirience every day as you serve Him. Many blessings, Joy. You are such a gift to us.
Joy says
Thank you Kris. Yes, keep praying for her sweet heart. I would love nothing more in life than to see her one day in Heaven. 🙂
You are so kind.
kelli says
I have just found your blog and am so blessed to read this story. What joy it is to see people living gospel-centered lives, and praying for this lady that she may one day “see.”
Joy says
Thank you Kelli! I’m so glad to “meet” you! And thank you so much for praying for my dear friend!
Monica says
This is beautiful, Joy!
Joy says
Thank you dear Monica!
Jeannie S says
This is so precious, truly what Christmas is about. Thank you for sharing.
Christmas Blessings to you and your family.
Joy says
Yes, it is what Christmas is about, isn’t it?! You are so welcome. I pray that you and your family are blessed this Christmas as well! Thank you for commenting!
Terri S says
What a joy that she is healed! May God heal her soul as well. I pray that He will. Thank you for blessing us with this story and the gift you have with words that glorify God.
Joy says
Thank you!! I am so thankful to be able to share her story here in this beautiful space!
Stacey says
Just like Jesus Joy! He took the mud, put it on the blind man’s eyes and healed! The true healing comes though when they see Jesus! Praying with you that she will one day, too!
You know what I also see here? We live blessed. And to give, is far more a blessing than to receive!
Thanks friend.
Joy says
Yes, dear, you are so right. We do live blessed and it really is more blessed to give than receive, so, so true.
Thanks for commenting friend!
Katie Orr says
{Lord, we pray that you would bring her from darkness to light! Use Joy for your glory in this woman’s life! Bring great fame to your name as you heal this woman’s blindness! Continue to give them wisdom as they care for the poor.}
Excited to hear of all the Lord will do!
Joy says
Yes, echoing your prayer right now. Thank you SO much dear!
Women Living Well says
Oh Joy – that they might see!!! What an amazing picture…of not just the physical but spiritual. Your real life ministry is inspiring.
Thanks for this reminder today!
Courtney
Joy says
Thank you Courtney!
Christin says
Amen! Praise Jesus and prayers for her to see Him working in her life–and His love for her.
Joy says
Thank you Christin!
Angela Richter says
Just beautiful friend! I bet someday she DOES really see, praise God that HE is using your family to help so many who need Jesus!
Angela
Joy says
Thank you Angela. I am praying with you!!
Christy says
Beautiful, Joy. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Joy says
You are so welcome! Anytime I can share God’s story, I am ready and willing!! 🙂
Jessica says
What a beautiful story… made me weap… I am so grateful for vision… both in my eyes and in my soul! Thank you for sharing this!
Joy says
Yes, we do have so much to be grateful for, don’t we? Thank you for saying hello! Blessings to you today!
Christine Daigle says
Wow! God is working wonders through you Joy! God Bless you!
Joy says
I am so blessed to be in the middle of HIS action! 🙂
Amy says
What a beautiful story! How wonderful that this lady can see again. And I hope that one day she will “really see,” as you say.
Joy says
Thank you for joining me in the hope of sight for my friend. Blessings to you today. 🙂
amanda says
what an ispiring and touching story. you tell them so beautifully also. you are a real inspiration!
Joy says
Thank you Amanda. The story is His, and I am blessed to get to tell it. 🙂
Lisa Littlewood says
What a beautiful story…Amen to answered prayers…and what a blessing you are in her life…and she to you in different ways.
Joy says
Yes, Lisa, you are so right. She is a huge blessing in my life! I’m so glad to you see that perspective!! 🙂
Ellen says
What a beautiful real-life story! I pray that your friend comes to know the Lord through prayer and your example!
My favorite Christmas memory is the one when we were at my in-laws for the holidays (we only get to see them about once a year now) and the whole family got together before hand, by phone and e-mail to get together to recreate the Virgin Mary’s birth for Jesus. Everyone had a part. It was a surprise for my husbands parents. We had this event in my sister-in-laws open ended barn, she had decorated it beautifully, but simply with a door, greenry and a cross made of barbed wire. We had real live calves with wreaths and bells. Oh it was cold, but one read the story and the grandchildren played out the scene in Bethlehem that perfect night. We sang, prayed, gave Glory to God and dedicated it to my inlaws for all they had done for us and what incredible examples they are for our families. Oh and it started snowing that wonderful Christmas Eve.
Joy says
Oh Ellen! What a beautiful picture! Thank you for sharing that sweet story!
Christy says
Beautiful story from a beautiful person. Thank you for sharing!
Joy says
You are welcome Christy. Thanks for saying hello!!
Toni says
You are so right! It can be “easy” for us to give financially to help people eat, or have clothing, or send children to school. But the ultimate goal of our loving others through our deeds & finances is to see them come to know the Living & True God! That is the most difficult task of missionaries. Our family will pray for yours as you continue to witness to this dear child of God.
Joy says
Thank you Toni. Yes, it is always a challenge to figure out what the best path is. I just have to stay close to Jesus, because He always makes it clear! 🙂
Christina Gilliland says
What a beautiful, humble way to show Christ’s love to another! May we all search for those kinds of opportunities wherever we are. Thanks for sharing, Joy!
Joy says
Exactly Christina. Wherever we are!!
Sonya Parga says
What a wonderful thing….the gift of sight! You are a true blessing to those you work with as well as to those of us that are blessed ourselves through your blog! I absolutely love this post! Thank you for my tears as I read this post! You have blessed me today! May God bless you and your family this season!
Joy says
Thank you dear Sonya. Your tears have brought me tears today. 🙂
Cheryl @Treasures from a Shoebox says
Praise the Lord that you are there…for such a time as this. Beautiful.
Joy says
Me too Cheryl. Me too.
Angela says
OHHH I LOVED your post today, Joy! How God uses you to minister to those in your life is so inspiring and humbling! 🙂 Joining you in praying that one day she will allow God to truly help her “see”. 🙂
Joy says
Thank you sweet friend. I am so blessed to have so many praying for my sweet friend. I am SOOO excited to see what the Lord is gonna do!
Godsgracefulness.com says
I cried. Tears of Joy.
Joy says
Yes. Thank you. All these tears brings me to tears too.
Betty Draper says
Loved your post Joy…it reminded me of a young girl in Bolivia, South America who had a huge growth on her face. She would keep her hair comb mostly to that side of her face. Surgery was cheap in comparsion to what it cost in the US and like you we were rich in comparsion to those around us. Hard to believe helping someone could cause a cultural problem but you know well how it can. Finally we had a green light from the Lord to help her get the surgery. Several of us missionaries helped in getting her to a city, we were 150 miles to the city. I so remember seeing her after the surgery and being filled with such joy over the fact she wore her hair off of her face. To this day I can see her face. Here in the states we have tons of organization, welfare, and other ways of helping people build into our system but in those third world countries the poor are really poor without any way of getting help.
God bless your sweet heart for all you and your husband do….my husband and I only wish we had another life to give to serve overseas. Never, I mean never had one day of regret about our years over seas.
Sharon says
What a great story! I am so glad you and some friends were able to help her. I was holding my breath, hoping for a happy ending!
Katie @ Imperfect People says
I love it how you point out how RICH we are compared to the world. What a beautiful post
Stefanie Brown says
Oh, this story brings back such amazing memories for me. I am a surgical nurse and I worked on the mission field in Peru with 2 eye surgeons. How incredible it was to hear the stories, the visual distortions and the pain only to watch them come out on the other side seeing! Not only that, but having the opportunity to share the Gospel, hoping their spiritual eyes would be opened. Many came to know him! So thankful…
Love your heart and ministry. I consider myself blessed to have been introduced to you at Relevant!
john cowan(retired wbt translator) says
dear sister in Christ JOY, I do so enjoy your and your husbands blogs. Say did you try the M M S for your mysterious illness some time back in the states? Finding a good parasitologist M>D> in the usa is a challenge.God bless john
Chickens and Social Media | Grace Full Mama says
[…] may remember my dear friend that needed an eye operation. As I mentioned before, she is one of the hardest workers I know. She is always finding new ways […]