Covenant Stories: Lillian's Eyes
Story #16 in the Covenant series
My third daughter was born on the last day of 1996. Having had two children already, we were feeling very relaxed and at ease, so we named her Lillian. We were thinking of the famous passage in the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus urged his followers not to be consumed with worry.
Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. Matthew 6:28-29
I’ve often felt it was a blessing that we named her Lillian, because within two months of her birth it was obvious something was wrong with her eyes. The doctor told us she had Strabismus, a condition that was once called “lazy eye.” There is a small window of time, early in life, where our eyes learn to work together. For whatever reason, Lillian missed that window of opportunity. Surgery and glasses might help her look straight ahead, but her eyes would never work in together to produce a three-dimensional view of the world.
About that same time Jeanene and I had become convinced that Covenant Baptist Church was never going to grow large enough to be able to afford a building. We loved Covenant, but we simply didn’t have enough people to pay for something like that. We were in a bind. People in our culture are accustomed to attending churches that have a permanent home. Right or wrong, that is the expectation. Without a building it can be hard to attract people. But without people, you can’t pay for a building...
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I see Dr. Grant at TBC every
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 06/27/2009 - 15:23.I see Dr. Grant at TBC every sunday =) I have gone there my whole life, and I have been a huge fan of your blog for years.
It warmed my heart so much to hear you mention him and our church.
I am also honored that we could help the building project of such a fine church.
When I read that Trinity
Submitted by AuntC (not verified) on Sat, 06/27/2009 - 20:44.When I read that Trinity assisted your mortgage payments for 3 years with no strings attached, I actually gasped out loud. I am stunned by that kind of generosity. STUNNED.
Goosebumps
Submitted by Jill @ Hyperhidrosis Web (not verified) on Sat, 06/27/2009 - 20:59.Hi Gordon - I truly go goosebumps reading this. We don't know how God will come through, but when he does ... Thanks for sharing this and for what you are doing with this blog. I will definitely drop back in.
lillian esther was the name
Submitted by nAncY (not verified) on Sun, 06/28/2009 - 11:13.lillian esther was the name of my dad's mother.
Our church has a similar
Submitted by Brandon (not verified) on Mon, 06/29/2009 - 10:07.Our church has a similar type of story. Except it involves Jimmy Swaggart and Trinity Broadcasting. And it causes me to step back anytime I am about to criticize one of the TV preachers. It's easy to paint with a wide brush, but not always accurate. Or maybe it is accurate, and God works through flawed humans no matter their motivations. Either way, some unlikely folks helped us obtain property when we had none.
thanks
Submitted by Susiederk (not verified) on Mon, 07/06/2009 - 16:39.We are considering naming our expected little girl Lillian, and I had been on the fence. Now I am feeling better about the name. :)
Hi Gordon - I truly go
Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 07/15/2009 - 10:17.Hi Gordon - I truly go goosebumps reading this. We don't know how God will come through, but when he does ... Thanks for sharing this and for what you are doing with this blog. I will definitely drop back in.