Understanding

The good news is J examined H yesterday and his vision is improving very nicely in his weaker eye. There is actually no bad news. H's surgery is now scheduled for December and we are thankful. The better the vision going into the surgery the better the long term results are, which is really great. H has been doing a really great job patching, he has been wearing his patch to school on days he has football and he wears it until lunch. If we wait until after school, we just don't have enough hours left. He seems to be quite the trooper about it. I am really pleased with him. He is also doing really great in school, his reading is good; he is really excited when he doesn't have any corrections to his handwriting work; he loves football, especially the tackling and running; and he loves his soccer, he scored 5 goals in a game a few weeks ago and even made a few good stops at goalie.

As I was thinking about an ophthalmologist's son needing eye surgery, I couldn't help but thank God for the earthly picture of Christ being our High Priest who understands our temptations and struggles. Jesus came down. He was tempted in every way and yet did not sin. He suffered. He longed. He waited. He cried. He mourned. He longed for a better day. He suffered the penalty of sin. I can't comprehend the weight or the darkness. And then, he conquered the grave. He rose above death. And he is victorious. He is crowed with honor and glory. He is seated. So when we go to him, he gets it. He understands because he has been here.

So the earthly picture is this-- John is concerned about his boy. The day he found the turn in his eye, he could have cried. He saw the future and not having depth perception, not seeing well in a microscope, not seeing 3D in 3D, the limitations that this would bring. He felt the urgency of wanting to get help. He felt the urgency of wanting to have a better visit, a better report, an improving report. And soon, he will kiss his son before anesthesia carries him away. He will wait and pray. He will feel the time of being separated by an OR door. He will be thrilled to see him. He will wait to hear from the Dr that all went well. He will take him back to a post-op visit. Not that he needed to, but because of all this, J will have a new understanding of this process of being an ophthalmology patient, actually being the Father of an ophthalmology patient, of loving an ophthalmology patient. He will feel it.

And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purposes. I will choose to believe it. I've always wondered why, so often, people have to use their own professional skills to take care of their family. Today, I am grateful to think on it this way. And grateful to thank the great Hight Priest Jesus who understands and who reveals it to me.