I heard the bang of a metal door next to me before I leaned down for that “underneath” the gas-station-bathroom-stall search. In my bent over rectangular view, two thick-soled black shoes shuffled against the dirty tile floor. Their slow slide inched forward with obvious effort.
Once abreast of my stall door, they would block my way. I needed to open my door immediately and exit before her slow unsteady progress left me stranded in the tight pit stop hallway. But I knew if I did, I’d be gone out of the bathroom before she even got to the sink. And, though we were on a time crunch on our road trip, she might need help.
Nor did I want to come behind her and make her feel rushed or embarrassed at her difficult mobility. I decided to wait.
He who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He who formed the eye, shall He not see? (Psalm 94:9 NKJV)
My daughter, in her power chair changes how I look at others. People once invisible to me, catch my eye now. I can see them with my heart. From her vantage point, my daughter often finds herself dividing tall crowds of people. She is a fork in their road, and they go around her as if she is a mere blockage in their path. Like a river divides itself against a rock, groups swell and split around her without a downward glance, speeding past, never acknowledging the woman at their elbows. She separates floods of humanity while she waits for an elevator, takes a place in line, or motors down the store aisle.
And this invisibleness bothers me tremendously. It keeps me in my gas station bathroom stall until I decide it’s time to nonchalantly appear.
The elderly woman breathed heavily with the exertion of each step. She groaned with pain as she shoved the walker ahead of herself. When she’d nearly reached the sink, I unlocked my door and stepped out. I recognized from our family experiences with our daughter’s handicap that this lady, decades older than our daughter, was new to the Land of Disability.
And somehow this woman’s pain touched a tender spot in my heart, a connection to our family’s pain, and with it that assurance that God puts people in my daughter’s path like He has put me in this lady’s path.
She leaned into her walker and groaned, bewildered at how to proceed with the simple task in front of her. She needed to wash her hands.
… He who planted the ear, shall He not hear?
I took one look at this dear lady’s face, and knew God offered to me what I had thought to offer another. I became so aware of His seeing my own invisible hurts and of His constant caring.
He who formed the eye, shall He not see? (Psalm 94:9 NKJV)
I looked through the scene with the familiar eyes of my daughter. Everything was out of this lady’s reach. The faucet, soap dispenser, paper towels, could just as well have been on another planet. They were useless to her. God offered to me what I had thought to offer another Click To Tweet
And so we bonded over soap, water, paper towels, and the big bathroom exit door she could never have opened by herself.
When I finally got her safely to her husband and her car, I wanted nothing more than to put my head down and cry. For her. For my daughter. For me.
I mistakenly thought I had something to give when God intended for me to receive.
This morning I read the Apostle Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 12. They struck me again with how God uses the platform of our human weakness, those thorns in our flesh, to display His power and strength.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 ESV)
When my shortsightedness sees a blockage in my path, Jesus sees the blessing. He sees beyond to how He will use even thorns to His glory. While I see with the restrictive rectangular view of human eyes under a toilet stall, He sees all. When my shortsightedness sees a blockage in my path, Jesus sees the blessing Click To Tweet
If at times I may feel unseen, I can be sure, no one is invisible to God. He hears, He sees. He cares so much He showed it by ministering to me through a woman whose hands I washed with mine. I’m sure I’ll never see her again, but I know He will never lose sight of her. And I am comforted again and assured that He who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He who formed the eye, shall He not see? (Psalm 94:9 NKJV)
Marilyn Nutter
Thank you Sylvia for a beautiful picture of seeing through God’s eyes. We often think of returning from road trips with memories of great restaurants, landscapes, or historic sites. Your memory was a different kind and one money couldn’t buy.
Sylvia schroeder
Thanks so much Marilyn. God is indeed kind and good. I’m grateful He allowed me that glimpse of His care.
Melodye Willie
Beautiful! I enjoyed this so much! As a retired special needs teacher, I have seen first hand the struggles our most vulnerable deal with. Won’t heaven be glorious! No more walkers, wheelchairs and braces!
Sylvia Schroeder
Melodye, thanks so much for adding your perspective. Thank you for serving in the area of special needs. Yes! Heaven will be glorious. How often that is impressed on my heart. I appreciate you highlighting eternity!
Katherine Pasour
This past week, while shopping in a super-store that has tall shelves, heavy products, and not a lot of folks to help people, I came upon a woman in a motorized chair. She pondered two gallons of vegetable oil. Should I ask if she needs help?–I thought. Feeling a gentle nudge, I did. She smiled with delight, “I want some of this oil, but it’s heavy. I think I’ll find someone to help.” I asked permission to set the oil in her basket and did so when she responded with an affirmative. Her smile sent me a burst of sunshine and she thanked me over and over. As you mention, I received so much more from the encounter than I gave. God blessed me that day. Thanks for the blessing you’ve shared through your message, Sylvia.
Sylvia Schroeder
Katherine, I’m so glad you had the opportunity to help her. I have no doubt she appreciated it so much. Thanks for sharing that lovely experience.
Gladys (Harder) Friesen
Being a bit disabled – in a wheelchair-for the past 2.5 years has given me better insight into how blessed I/we am/are. People readily help us get through doorways more easily and often offer their assistance in other ways-for which we are thankful. I learned a great response, last winter, to people’s questioning ” How are you?” from a guy “manning” a small coffee shop’s till when he replied “I’m blessed”. It took some time to learn this new response but it reminds me to look for ways I AM blessed each day and it is almost like using a code phrase to let another Christ follower know I’m their sister. They often respond in such a way that lets me know they know the Lord too, which is another blessing.
Sylvia Schroeder
Oh Gladys, I love your attitude. Thank you so much for sharing that. I know your “blessed” attitude is a great blessing to those you meet. It is great to hear from you!
Nancy E. Head
He who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He who formed the eye, shall He not see? (
I love that scripture. He sees every person he formed. He knows us.
We are not invisible to Him.
Thanks Sylvia. Wonderful message!
Sylvia Schroeder
Thank you Nancy for reading and commenting. I have been clinging to that truth recently. It is such a comfort to know He sees and hears, and a bit mind boggling too. What an amazing Father we have!!
Don Pahl
Appropriate and necessary reminder, Sylvia! Thank yiu!
Sylvia Schroeder
Thanks Don. Always honored to hear your thoughts!
Anonymous
Thanks for your perspective Sylvia. My mom has been in a wheelchair for the last 4.5 years. That changes a lot of things. Thanks for seeing and caring.
Sylvia Schroeder
Thank you for sharing that. I’m sorry to hear about your mother’s disability. I appreciate hearing from you and thank you for reading my post and responding!
J.D. Wininger
Not sure why I’m only receiving your posts on Saturday these days, but this one was so worth the wait my friend. I too have been humbled by God helping me to see with His eyes and not my own. When we do, we react to situations the way He does. We see with love, compassion, and kindness. We act with love, goodness, and mercy. It’s when we quit being so immersed in this world that we can’t see beyond it, that we see it in the very best light. His! God’s blessings Ms. Sylvia. You touched my heart with this one precious sister-in-Christ.
Sylvia Schroeder
Thank you J.D. Your kind words have encouraged me often, but especially today. I’m glad you got the post today. But, we need to figure this one out! I hope others aren’t having the same problem. Could they be going into junk for some strange reason? Regardless, thanks so very much for responding when you did. The Lord knew I would need a Saturday response. It blessed my heart.
Candyce Carden
Just lovely. It gives me a whole new perspective on feeling invisible. The One who matters sees me! I must hang on to that truth.
Sylvia Schroeder
Candyce, thanks so much for sharing that. You encouraged me today as well. Hang on to truth!
Sue Vogt
Thank you – encouraging!
Sylvia Schroeder
Thank you Sue. I’m always encouraged when I hear from you!