Open my eyes that I may see

Mary Ann Franco lost her sight in 1995 as a result of spinal injuries following a car accident. Recently she fell down stairs and had to have emergency surgery on her spine in a Florida hospital to relieve severe pain in her neck and arms. When she came round after the operation she realised that her sight had returned. Even her childhood colour-blindness had disappeared. The doctors who operated on her are unable to explain the cause of her regaining her sight.

Mary Ann is very happy that, at the age of 70, she can see the sun and the sky and birds and animals again. She said, “In the mornings, I get up, and I look out and the sun is coming through the trees, and the beams are coming down. Oh it’s so wonderful to see.” She is also overjoyed that she can see her 7 grandchildren, and her 2 great grandchildren for the first time. She believes the restoration of her sight is a gift from God. “I believe he just went ahead and gave it to me,” she said. “I really believe this with all my heart.”

Sight is a great blessing. It is wonderful to see the splendour of the natural world around us. At this time of year nature is coming to life again. The spring flowers, blossoms and new leaves are beautiful. God reveals himself to us in the book of his works. Carl Gustaf Boberg’s hymn “How great Thou art” is a response to God’s revelation in his creation. “O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder, consider all the worlds thy hands have made; I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, thy power throughout the universe displayed. When through the woods, and forest glades I wander, and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees. When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur and see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze. Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee, How great Thou art, How great Thou art.”

We also need spiritual sight to see all that God has revealed about himself in his Word, the Bible. In Psalm 119 the psalmist prays, “Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions.” Around the world today people will open their Bibles and pray that, as they read, God will give them understanding and teach them his truth. It is a prayer he loves to answer.