Blind Robert

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On a certain day, I met a small boy who was slowly groping his way along the houses. I could see that he was blind. If he were able to use his eyes, then his walk would have been more certain. A child will usually run or at least have a spring in its step. I found it very touching. I thought of how long he would already have had to struggle in darkness. I considered how he would never be able to see the sunshine or even his parents’ faces.

I stopped for a moment to have a conversation with him. He told me that his name was Robert. His father was at home on account of sickness. His mother did laundry for other people, therefore, in order to provide for their household. He did his share in helping his mother by collecting the laundry from the people.

I asked him if he did not find it a terrible thing to be blind. He looked very pensive and gave it very earnest thought for a moment. Then he smiled and said, “Sometimes I think it is very bad, and I would like to see the sun which warms me. I would also like to see the birds which sing so beautifully for me or the flowers which are so soft when I touch them, but God has so willed it that I would be blind. He has given me a dear mother, and I am also able to go to Sunday school, in difference to the heathens who worship idols and snakes.”

“But Robert, if you could see, then you could do more for your mother. ” I immediately felt sorry for saying this because the happiness left his face. Tears came in his eyes and ran down his cheeks.

“But Robert, if you could see, then you could do more for your mother.” I immediately felt sorry for saying this because the happiness left his face. Tears came in his eyes and ran down his cheeks.

“Yes,” he replied, “I have often said that to my mother, too, but she said that I am already a big help, and she would not miss me for the whole world. My father said that I was the best nurse he had ever had, in spite of my blindness.”

“Oh, I believe you are a good boy,” I hasted to say.

“Oh, no, sir,” he answered, “I am not good because I have a sinful heart. I have very evil thoughts sometimes. If there were no Lord Jesus, then I would lose my mind. Oh, sir, then I pray to Him, and then it is just as if He says to me, ‘I forgive you, Robert. I love you, poor boy. I will take your evil heart away and give you a new heart.’ Then I feel so happy, sir. Then sometimes it is just as if I hear the angels singing.”

“That is good, Robert. Do you think you will ever see angels?”

“Oh, yes, sir, because when I die, then my soul will not be blind. It is only my earthly tabernacle which does not have windows. I can already see with my understanding, and Mother tells me that this is the way to heaven. A while ago, I also heard my father reading about heaven from the Bible: ‘And there shall be no night there.’ Here it is always night for blind people. When I think of how there will not be any light needed from the sun, oh, then I long so much for it.”

I asked him if he wanted to speak further with me. “Oh, yes,” he answered, “but my mother is waiting for the laundry which I have to get for her.”

I quickly put some money in his hand, so he could buy something for his father. Tears came into his eyes again. “Oh, sir,” he said, “you are so good to me. Now I can buy something for my father, a chicken to make some soup.”

After giving me hearty thanks, he continued on as fast as he was able. I walked behind him in order to see what he would do with the money. He first picked up the laundry for his mother. Then he went to buy a chicken and some bread. I followed him at a distance and watched through the window when he went to his father’s bed. He had the bread in one hand and the chicken in the other. I could hear his voice as he called to his father. “Look, Father, just see what the Lord has given you.”

Then he told his father of our meeting and how he had received money. “Father, I know for sure that the Lord put it in that friendly man’s heart to give the money, for the Lord has seen that you need it so badly.”

Reader, how great it is to be given to love the Lord, by grace, and to be given to trust in Him and to be satisfied with that which He gives us.

But those that trust Jehovah,
His mercy shall surround.
(from Psalter 84:8)

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