This blog is part of a series of 15 lessons based on the book, "Lessons from the Geese" by Dr. Robert McNeish.
Heather and Vance and their four children, Jonathan, Sophia, Joseph, and Lily, are a special part of my life. My wife and I look forward to our times with them, especially at a local restaurant where we celebrate everything from Summer Begins to Back to School. Two of the children have serious vision problems, Joseph and Sophia. Joe is an amazing young man. Over the years, especially at those meals at the restaurant, I have watched him become more and more independent. He no longer needs help with cutting his food or getting the straw through the plastic lid on his drink. It isn’t, however, the real development. Spiritually, he has insights into life that some of us never know. The day Joe saw a rainbow illustrates this. His father, Vance, tells the story.
Joe’s Rainbow
It has been a decade since my wife and I have accepted the reality that our son and daughter will never see a rainbow because of their deteriorating central vision. Often, we have tried to point them out. At times I have placed my arm next to their heads and help them pinpoint the exact location of the bright colors in the sky, only to hear the words, "I don't see it" and to see the hint of disappointment on their faces. Being 14 years old, Joseph also had accepted this reality, but to use his words to his little sister, "We can be thankful we aren't totally blind.”
One day, Joseph went fishing with his friend Levi. It was raining outside and my wife and I were watching a movie when we heard shouting at the front door, "Papa! Come quick!" On the front porch were two boys, soaking wet. Levi was holding up a huge largemouth bass and Joseph literally bouncing with joy. I said, "Joseph, you aren't excited are you?" He replied, "Yes, Dad, but not about the fish." He grabbed my arms with both hands. "Dad, I saw a rainbow!”
Talking 90 miles an hour, he described to us how he had asked Levi repeatedly, "Really? That's it right there?" While pointing and tracing the arch in the sky with his finger, "It goes from there to there? Those lines right there are a rainbow?!" He explained how perfect it was: The sky was gray on one side and he could see lines in the clear sky on the other side.
With his Mother beginning to cry, he told us, "I've had dreams of seeing a rainbow, but I actually got to see a real one!" Heather wept.
Later that evening while Joseph was taking a shower, I went into the bathroom to get my shoes, and from behind the curtain came the words, "Dad, that was so awesome! I couldn't see the colors, but I could see the different shade of lines in the rainbow." I immediately felt a touch of disappointment realizing that he didn't see the color that most of us experience. The only words I could muster were, "Joseph, it is a blessing from God. It was your rainbow." My disappointment left when he replied, ”It was a miracle, Dad."
How much clearer he sees through his eyes than I do mine at times. I will never really grasp what a rainbow without color looks like or exactly what it looks like through Joseph's eyes. However, the joy our son had and the glory he gave to God for what he did see are superior to those of us that have witnessed the brilliant colors of a rainbow. I have never seen anyone who saw the real colors be more excited that our son was on that day.
Those who know Joseph and share their lives with him, those who know his daily struggles with his disability and the fortitude he meets them with, and those who know his "story" will never again look at a rainbow as merely a reflection of the sun's rays on raindrops. Joseph’s experience adds a testimony to God's goodness, promise, and hope as it did in Noah's day. Like a rainbow, Joseph's life, attitude, and compassion are so often a beautiful reflection of God’s Son.
Take time to listen to a story of a person with a disability.
Heather and Vance and their four children, Jonathan, Sophia, Joseph, and Lily, are a special part of my life. My wife and I look forward to our times with them, especially at a local restaurant where we celebrate everything from Summer Begins to Back to School. Two of the children have serious vision problems, Joseph and Sophia. Joe is an amazing young man. Over the years, especially at those meals at the restaurant, I have watched him become more and more independent. He no longer needs help with cutting his food or getting the straw through the plastic lid on his drink. It isn’t, however, the real development. Spiritually, he has insights into life that some of us never know. The day Joe saw a rainbow illustrates this. His father, Vance, tells the story.
Joe’s Rainbow
It has been a decade since my wife and I have accepted the reality that our son and daughter will never see a rainbow because of their deteriorating central vision. Often, we have tried to point them out. At times I have placed my arm next to their heads and help them pinpoint the exact location of the bright colors in the sky, only to hear the words, "I don't see it" and to see the hint of disappointment on their faces. Being 14 years old, Joseph also had accepted this reality, but to use his words to his little sister, "We can be thankful we aren't totally blind.”
One day, Joseph went fishing with his friend Levi. It was raining outside and my wife and I were watching a movie when we heard shouting at the front door, "Papa! Come quick!" On the front porch were two boys, soaking wet. Levi was holding up a huge largemouth bass and Joseph literally bouncing with joy. I said, "Joseph, you aren't excited are you?" He replied, "Yes, Dad, but not about the fish." He grabbed my arms with both hands. "Dad, I saw a rainbow!”
Talking 90 miles an hour, he described to us how he had asked Levi repeatedly, "Really? That's it right there?" While pointing and tracing the arch in the sky with his finger, "It goes from there to there? Those lines right there are a rainbow?!" He explained how perfect it was: The sky was gray on one side and he could see lines in the clear sky on the other side.
With his Mother beginning to cry, he told us, "I've had dreams of seeing a rainbow, but I actually got to see a real one!" Heather wept.
Later that evening while Joseph was taking a shower, I went into the bathroom to get my shoes, and from behind the curtain came the words, "Dad, that was so awesome! I couldn't see the colors, but I could see the different shade of lines in the rainbow." I immediately felt a touch of disappointment realizing that he didn't see the color that most of us experience. The only words I could muster were, "Joseph, it is a blessing from God. It was your rainbow." My disappointment left when he replied, ”It was a miracle, Dad."
How much clearer he sees through his eyes than I do mine at times. I will never really grasp what a rainbow without color looks like or exactly what it looks like through Joseph's eyes. However, the joy our son had and the glory he gave to God for what he did see are superior to those of us that have witnessed the brilliant colors of a rainbow. I have never seen anyone who saw the real colors be more excited that our son was on that day.
Those who know Joseph and share their lives with him, those who know his daily struggles with his disability and the fortitude he meets them with, and those who know his "story" will never again look at a rainbow as merely a reflection of the sun's rays on raindrops. Joseph’s experience adds a testimony to God's goodness, promise, and hope as it did in Noah's day. Like a rainbow, Joseph's life, attitude, and compassion are so often a beautiful reflection of God’s Son.
Take time to listen to a story of a person with a disability.
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