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