Mrs . Jerisha Melbin , Missionary , Chennai
It was a cozy morning . As the sunlight streamed through the window , I stirred on my bed and sat to face another day . As I stood in front of the mirror for the umpteenth number of time , I mentally resolved to shed ' n ' number of calories that day . Suddenly , the thought of another ' mirror ' ( The Holy Bible James 1 : 22,23 ) came to my mind . I opened it out of a sense of compulsion and didn ' t look at it intently . A quick glance revealed that I had accumulated a lot of pride . But I didn ' t bother much . I was preoccupied in shedding my weekly target so that I can enjoy my favourite dessert on cheat day .
Days rolled by . Slowly , I was coming back to shape . I was excited ; for I will be able to wear those dresses again . I had accomplished which is only a dream for many . What a joy ! Happily , I wore that gorgeous dress to church that day . I could already hear the praises from my congregation on how gorgeous I looked in that dress and how younger after losing those few pounds .
I was waiting for the church service to get over . I could not hear what the pastor preached that day . Nothing entered my head . The service was finally over , and I was basking on the praises of the people . I left the church , still elated on my feat . I was mentally going through my closet , thinking on how I would replenish it . As I kept mulling over these things , I felt a violent bang in my head . I fell down , becoming unconscious .
After several days , I gained my consciousness . There had been an accident ! Two surgeries were already performed . I had two more to go . As I reeled in the pain , I cried ,
“ Why God ? Why me ?” I asked for my Bible . It had been quite a long time since I read it . I could not even figure out when last I treasured it ! I had gradually detached myself from the Lord . In my pursuit to get a fit body , I had neglected my soul . As I looked into the pages of the Scripture , I realized how ugly , out of shape my soul has become . I could hardly see any fruit of the Spirit in me ( Gal 5:22-23 ).
With great remorse , I submitted myself into the hands of the Great Physician . He explained that though there are certain areas that can be removed through a ' surgery ', there are still a whole lot of area in which I have to work with His help . Initially , it was very difficult . I had a tough time to even hear His voice properly . Slowly , I worked on the areas on which He was throwing light . My soul started to gradually lose those ugly stuff . Love , joy , peace were mine to embrace . I started to learn the art of being patient . Kindness , goodness and faithfulness have become my second nature . With such a tragedy , meekness and self-control became manifest in large measures .
It ' s been years since that fateful day . I haven ' t made a full circle yet . My body still bears the marks of it . But I am grateful to God for that accident . If He had not permitted it , I would have lost eternity for that which will perish . My obsession on external beauty made me to pursue it at the cost of my precious soul . The very thought of it makes me shudder . Thank God that I didn ' t die that day . How horrible it would have been to meet Him on the other shore in such a bad shape ! How disdainful !