A Notable Experience Today

I woke up last night with my eyes stuck shut.  Inconvenient, yes, but nothing major, nor surprising.  3 out of my 4 kids have had goopy eyes in the last 2 weeks, so I figured it was my turn. I washed them out and went back to bed.  I woke up at 3 with the same thing.  Again, I went to the bathroom to wash them out. I looked up into the mirror and saw  my right eyelid was starting to swell shut.  Fear welled up inside me.  This was the same eye that swelled shut 4 months ago.  And it started in a similar way.  It gradually swelled throughout the day until it was sealed shut the following  morning.  I started to cry and pulled myself together, debating whether or not I should wake up Cory.  I went back to bed and my emotions got the better of me.  Cory woke up and, as I told and showed him what happened, I sobbed as he held me.  I felt so scared.  Again, my husband worthily administered  a priesthood blessing in which, among other things, he blessed me to feel calm and at peace that I could sleep.  We both fell back asleep.

I went to the doctor this morning and got drops for pink eye.  The swelling in my eye has gone down.  Logically, I knew when it happened it wasn't the same thing starting over again.  But, sometimes emotion overtakes logic.

I went to my first radiation appointment tonight.  It was actually what they call a "dry run", setting me up as if I'm receiving the radiation to make sure everything is as it needs to be for when we begin the actual treatments next Monday.  I was in the bathroom washing my hands waiting to be called back and, I was looking at my reflection in the mirror, I thought how grateful I felt to my eye for being so resilient.  Earlier today, I was practically cursing my right eye.  But, as I looked at it tonight, not only did I feel grateful for a body that has gotten  me this far, I felt grateful to it.  I was reminded of what a gift my body is.  Lately, I haven't been so grateful for these mortal bodies.  Not only have I at times felt betrayed by and frustrated with  mine, I've been discouraged by McKay's eczema I can't get under control and Clara's congestion she's had since she was about a month old.  It really has been the cause of much anxiety.  But, tonight, the Lord sent another tender mercy when he reminded me of the gift our mortal bodies are.  I thanked my eye for hanging in there with me, for still being able to see and for healing.  I thank my body for being strong and withstanding all it's been through.  Of course, as I thank my body, I am thanking the Creator of our bodies.


All this from a swollen eye.