A couple weeks ago my wife reminded me she needed
her eyeglasses updated.
I grumbled to myself when I heard it, because her eyeglasses are quite expensive... due to a unique eye problem she has.
I swallowed hard and told her to go ahead and make the appointment to get the glasses done... all while still stewing inside about the
expense.
But then a couple days later I happened to read something that -- quite providentially -- gave me a new perspective.
It was a passage about the invention of eyeglasses.
Around the year 1280 an
Italian monk invented eyeglasses to help aging members of his monastery continue to study ancient manuscripts... even while their eyesight was failing.
Reading that passage really opened my eyes!
It helped me see that instead of grumbling, I should be thankful that there's such a thing as
eyeglasses... so my wife can function and make the most of the gifts God has given her.
I suppose a similar thing could be said about other expenses that commonly come up... to pay for things like car or washing machine repairs.
Yes, I suppose we could live without a washing machine... and my wife and
I could devote a good part of every Saturday to get our clothes clean some other way.
But the fact is... we're blessed to live in a time when we're surrounded by inventions that make our lives more convenient and productive.
Sure, they consume a fair amount of money to stay operating... but their
existence enables us to pursue more satisfying and worthwhile dominion-oriented activities with our time.
And I'm thankful for the Italian monk who helped me see that more clearly.