Have you ever looked at something, say a book, and found yourself moving it forward to get a better, clearer view? Well, we can just imagine what age bracket you might be entering or residing in. A few years ago, my husband and I found that our eyes were changing. We’d gone through the “accordion view of things” (moving things inward and outward for a more focused view).
After a few weeks of very tiny observation, I bit the bullet and made an eye appointment. As I was sitting in the waiting room, I noticed a rather large sign on the wall. It was a caricature of a little boy that obviously had just put on his first pair of glasses. It read as follows:
DEAR GOD,
I CAN SEE YOU MUCH BETTER
WITH MY NEW GLASSES
I chuckled to myself and came to the conclusion I was in the right office, waiting for the right doctor. I wasn’t seeing things as clearly as they really were. And, new glasses weren’t going to be the answer to my dilemma. Even though I appreciated the conclusions from the eye doctor, she informed me that I needed to see a “new friend,” an OPHTHALMOLOGIST. That’s pronounced phonetically: op thal molo gist !
A few years had passed and it was now time to “see” what else might be required to help “bring things into focus” for me. As a couple, my husband suggested I go first (how thoughtful of him) and see how things go, and he would follow suit.
A highly recommended ophthalmologist’s name was given to me and an appointment was made. As I entered the waiting room for my first appointment, there were no cute little signs as before. The staff were pleasant and very accommodating. I was ushered into a room with about four machines. This event seemed more strategic than the regular eye doctor.
Tests were done and the physician came in and announced that in order to have a more unencumbered view of things, it would require having cataract surgery on both eyes. It didn’t take me long to agree with this specialist. After all, he not only had all the equipment to prove the point, but the paper evidence of his degrees of education to back up his findings.
Cutting this story to the point: an appointment for my first surgery was made. This surgery was performed in Arizona. I was informed that I would require a ride home. That seemed obvious, so my husband accompanied me as far as the waiting room.
This surgeon had a surgical clinic that resembled a hospital setting with beds, nurses and anesthesiologists and the like. When my name was called, they escorted me to a private little setting with curtains adjacent to the portable gurney. I could tell it was portable due to the wheels at the bottom.
Yes, there I was getting “cozy posy” with a nice warm blanket. The blanket wasn’t provided because it was a cool setting; I think it was to calm a patients’ nerves…. (and it worked). They took my blood pressure and announced that the surgeon and “nite nite doctor” will stop by soon to go over the procedure. One felt as though they were the only patient…..but actually we were all “bedded down” with selected times for each person’s procedure and separated only by a thin cloth wall. Actually, if you were outside my curtain area, each patient was lined up like ducks waiting to enter the pond.
Every aspect of the appointment was SPECTACULAR. Any apprehension one may have felt was soon removed. The ophthalmologist was personable, caring and very thorough in every way. Soon after his exit, the “nite nite” doctor entered my temporary abode. He too assured me that he would be looking after me with regards to my “not remembering anything.” (I liked that part!)
About thirty minutes later, the nurse and anesthesiologist came to accompany me (on the gurney) to my new destination. I never remember arriving, so I think he released the “nite nite” liquid en route to the operating room.
Everything went well and in six weeks, I was back to have the other eye attended to. Just to note, that my husband then felt very comfortable in having both of his eyes attended to removing his cataracts. Wasn’t that a great idea of “his” to have me go first??!!
Now, to the point of my story. I was so relieved and impressed by the attention to detail this doctor took with my surgery that I wrote a detailed letter to him to thank him for his exemplary work. Yes, I know it was “his job,” but don’t we all feel valued and encouraged when someone takes the time and effort to express gratitude “on paper.” I thought that was the end of that journey with the physician.
Two weeks later, the OPHTHALMOLOGIST WROTE ME BACK.
Here was his “hand-written” note to me.
Dear Dianne,
Thank you so much for your incredible thank you letter!
I am so thrilled you are doing so well with your surgery!
I aim to achieve this with each and everyone of my patients!
Regardless of a person’s occupation, each and every one welcomes and values a “thank you” note of appreciation for their work. I don’t think it would be a bad idea to carry with us in our purse or car, thank you notes to “distribute freely as necessary.” You may “make someone’s day!” Or……”their month!”
Oh, that we might thank the Lord Jesus often for our own eye sight. Many people have never had the privilege of being able to see, or have lost their eye-sight and would give anything to see again. Whether we have full vision, partial vision or lost vision, God would yearn for us to “see and perceive” with our “inner vision” His work in and around our lives. Our physical eyes aren’t the only vision God has allowed us to have.
Cups of Cold Water 