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Jesus noticed people. He saw the ones others did not see. He saw people as they really were. But more than that, He saw who God created them to be.
He looked on them with compassion.
But He did more than look. He reached out to people. He called them by name.
He touched them. He comforted them.
He challenged them. He taught them.
He forgave what we would think was unforgivable.
This past year, as I reflected on Jesus’ Life, I said, “I want to be like You. I want to see the world and the people in it like You do.”
God said, “OK, let’s go.”
And He miraculously, almost overnight, gave me the words to a book. Jay took those words and under the direction of The Lord, turned the words into a real book.
God gave us “loaves and fishes” through that book and we published it before the Christmas season began.
We then purchased a supply of books and began the adventure of a lifetime, as we gave each book to those God pointed out.
We did not just give out books. We made an effort to really notice people and connect with them. We got the names of each person and prayed for them.
Many of them were total strangers.
The tired and overworked clerks, the delivery people, the people grieving at graves at the cemetary, nurses, doctors, neighbors, pastors and many others.
We wrote letters of appreciation and sent books to people God brought to mind. Some were people from our lives long ago and some were people from today who had touched our lives in some way.
We were not merchandizing the book. It was simply a way to let others know God saw them. God noticed them. God stopped and said “I love you and have a Gift for you.”
For some it was His Way of saying, “Blessed are you who mourn. I will comfort you.”
For some, it was His Way of saying “The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not been able to overcome it.”
For some, it was His Way of saying, “What you are doing matters. I see you and value you.”
It was an incredible experience to go with God and really see people. As Christmas approached, I could hardly wait to see what else God had in mind.
He was already giving me a preview by giving me over twenty chapters into another book.
But then life changed dramatically. What seemed to be a manageable eye problem deteriorated rapidly into a potentially life threatening problem.
By Christmas Eve, I was in an emergency room. Less than a week later I had emergency surgery, not to save my eye, but to save my life.
I am still processing it all. All throughout, God revealed His Presence in truly miraculous ways. He taught me and is still teaching me that seeing the Way He sees is not limited to just physical sight.
Satan would like to have made my experience a slam dunk for him by saying, “Well, hot shot. You asked to see and look what happened.”
However, God has allowed me to see even more. Through this new experience, He has called my attention to every detail in His beautiful world.
Even being able to read a street sign or license plate excites me. Being able to see the faces of my family thrills me. I am oh so thankful to still be able to read and write and play the piano and so many other things.
What happened to me still brings on anxiety attacks as I adjust to this new life. But God has continued to say, “Look at all I am showing you. You asked to see what I see. You are just in training.”
And here is the next miraculous view. As I have shared my story, people have offered comfort to me in multiple ways — family, friends, those who were strangers to me, but not to God, Who prompted them to reach out and comfort and encourage me.
I saw God in all of them. He smiled and said, “Yes, my daughter, the way they saw you is through My Eyes.”
I am immersed in gratitude, as I continue the journey with Him.
When Jesus saw the crowds, He had compassion for them.
Matthew 9:36
And He still does. He looks at everyone of us with compassion and wants us to see the world as He does.
“Comfort, comfort My people,” says your God. “With gentle words, tender and kind.”
Isaiah 40:1
