Happy Eyes

"There, young lady!" Dr. Morris finished adjusting Trina's glasses. "These are your helpers until we can get this eye condition corrected."

Then taking a folder from a drawer, he handed it to Trina's mother saying, "Have her do these exercises every day and bring her in again in two weeks."

It sounded strange to Trina. As the elevator whisked them down to street level, some questions chased through her mind: "Do exercises really heal? Isn't God the only healer?"

Trina had first learned that God heals disease that time when the children next door had taken her to the Christian Science Sunday School with them. She saw how they depended on God for healing, and now she wanted God to heal her.

She knew Mother would understand, because she had been attending a branch Church of Christ, Scientist. But what about Father? He had asked her to go to an eye doctor.

She touched her mother on the arm and asked in a troubled voice, "Do you think Father would let me have Christian Science treatment instead of these exercises?"

Mother's answer was reassuring. "I am sure that your father wants only the very best for you! We'll tell him how God heals through Christian Science."

After Father examined the sheet of exercises, he looked at Trina and Mother, then with a twinkle in his eye said, "I can tell you two have something more to say to me! So what is it?"

Trina began, "I don't need exercises to make my eyes see better. God can heal them. He will just wipe all the trouble away!"

Then Mother added, "I have heard of several healings of eyes at the testimony meetings at church. I am convinced that Christian Science heals."

Father looked thoughtful. He turned the folder in his hands. "It would not be reasonable to try to follow two paths, would it? I only want this trouble cleared up. You can work it out your way if you wish."

Trina thanked him with a big hug.

Every day after school Trina and her mother hunted for Bible verses or some healing thought from the textbook, Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy. They wanted to understand more of God's healing power.

After a few days Mother suggested they ask a Christian Science practitioner to help them. They found a Mrs. Johnson in the list of practitioners in the back of a Christian Science Journal.

It was Trina's first visit to a practitioner, and she lagged behind as they went up the steps. But Mrs. Johnson's welcome made Trina feel right at home. She helped them hang up coats and remove storm boots.

Trina found a chair by a window overlooking a park. Mother, seated by Mrs. Johnson's desk, told why they had come. When she said Trina was not able to read the writing on the blackboard at school, Mrs. Johnson said briskly, "I am sure we are not going to believe that false report about God's child! Let's turn from this error and let Truth give us a true report."

She picked up Science and Health from her desk and read part of Mrs. Eddy's definition of "eyes": "Spiritual discernment,—not material but mental." ^{Science and Health, p. 586;}

Then she said, "The child God made always sees the lovely things of Spirit. Christ Jesus expected us to have normal use of our eyes. He knew that good sight is linked directly with our understanding of God and His perfect creation. He said, 'Having eyes, see ye not?' ^{Mark 8:18;} And another time when His disciples had shown by healing that they understood what God is, he said, 'Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see.'" ^{Luke 10:23;}

Blessed eyes! Happy eyes!

Turning to Trina, she asked, "Can you think of something else Jesus said about seeing?"

After a moment Trina answered, "'Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.'" ^{Matt. 5:8.}

Mrs. Johnson smiled. "Purity, love, these qualities help us see God, good. Then our sight is clear and vivid, too."

Trina couldn't find words for her joy. Just then the sun broke through the clouds.

"Oh, look!" She pointed. "The park is beautiful!"

"Why don't you slip on your boots and have a run through the park?"

In a few moments Trina was running through the red and yellow leaves that made bright splashes of color on the grass. She looked into the fountain and saw the reflection of the crimson maple trees, patches of blue sky and tumbling clouds. It reminded her that she was God's reflection. God is all-seeing, and she reflected His all-seeing perfectly.

She took off her glasses and looked around. Every leaf and sparkling drop of water was clear. She read Mrs. Johnson's house number across the street, "1232." She saw Mother coming down the steps, so she put on her glasses and ran to join her.

As they walked toward home, Mother said, "Trina, you're splashing me! Why do you step in the middle of the water puddles?"

"I'm sorry, Mother! I think I am stepping over them and I land right in the middle. It must be these glasses."

"Take them off and drop them in here." Mother held out her handbag.

"That's better," said Trina. "I don't need them. I'm going to run home and tell Father!"

Trina soon forgot all about the glasses, but she always remembered that the pure in heart see God, see good!