Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. ~Psalm 119:105
I look forward to my daily Bible reading as I seek God's wisdom and reflect upon His promises. My goal is always to complete the entire Bible within the course of a year, and start over again when the new year rolls around.
Lately, however, this practice has become a struggle. Not because I've ceased to enjoy it, but because no matter how I angle the light in my study room or pull the Bible closer to me, the type is frustratingly small. I mention to Danny that, perhaps, I should look into one of those reading magnifiers that you can drape around your neck. He promptly researches these on Amazon, but none of them look appealing, and few come with high recommendations.
Nix that!
I'll just press on in spite of the inconvenience.
Last Wednesday, I'm checking out mail and blogs on my laptop when Danny asks me what to me sounds like an out-of-the-blue question. "Have you done your Bible reading yet today?"
I give him a quizzical look. "Not yet. I wanted to finish up a few things here before I go back to the middle room. Why?"
"Just let me know what you think when you do," he says rather cryptically.
Okay, that does it! I hastily finish up what I'm doing on the computer and retreat to my middle room study. When I flip on the desk lamp, I can hardly believe my eyes!
Danny has unexpectedly gifted me with a large print Bible! I'm over the moon with excitement and gratitude! "I even made sure to order you one with a pink cover," he quips.
Yes, Danny knows my favorite girly color. I even have a pink-colored case protecting my smart phone.
How he manages to place the order, sneak the delivery box into the house, inscribe it to me and still keep all under the cloak of secrecy is a mystery he won't divulge, and that's okay by me.
Can you see what he's written to me at the top aside my name? Read and worship BIG!
That first day of reading the large print version is a dream come true. So much so, that I read way beyond my intended amount for that day. I do so again the next day. And the next. And the next.
I'm still on a roll as I type this up for Tuesday's blog. Oh, goodness, is it that time already? Excuse me, friends, while I retreat to my favorite study place with my favorite teacher: Our Father in heaven.
Amen!
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Dear Martha, I was just going to suggest that either you borrow a Bible from the library in large print or purchase one. How sweet of Danny. I am so happy 😊 for you. God bless you, dear friend. 🙏
ReplyDeleteThanks, Linda! Yes, I definitely agree that Danny's both sweet and thoughtful. I know how blessed I am.
DeleteGrace and blessings!
Many years ago when I wore glasses I had my reading vision taken care of within my glasses. But the day came when I had cataract surgery and no longer needed glasses. Now I have readers in just about every place in the house that I read. I even have two pair here at the office-one for use on the computer (and while I'm preaching) and one to read with. I went with a full-on glasses look when I preached. I think it looks weird to have glasses perched on my nose and looking down on people. :) For many years I have been using a Large Print Bible for reading and preaching. The Giant Print is too big but the Large Print is perfect. (However, I do avoid a pink cover). LOL. The important thing is the time spent in God's Word allowing His Word to change your heart. Well done.
ReplyDeleteWhat? No pink cover? LOL! I'm glad I'm not the only "youngster" here that has to resort to a large print Bible, Bill. As I wrote about in a previous post, my readers are now on a lanyard so I don't have to keep several in different locations. And, of course, you're right about spending time in God's Word to change our hearts and minds.
DeleteGrace and blessings!
Well done Danny and congratulations Martha. How wonderful.
ReplyDeleteIt's true, some Bibles are difficult to read because of small prints. It's good you can now read more than usual.
God bless you both.
Thanks, Victor! I am enjoying my Bible reading so much more than ever before. I'm sure I needed the large print years ago, but maybe my vanity kept me from ordering one. God can keep us humble, can't He?
DeleteGrace and blessings!
Great gift by Danny. I bought Lori a large print Bible a few years ago and she loves it. I know you will love your too.
ReplyDeleteI'm already loving it, Bill. Glad you got one for Lori; I'm sure she loves hers, too.
DeleteGrace and blessings!
Oh I am so very happy for you sweet friend. Like you for over 30 some years I have read the entire Bible every year. It never ceases to keep me looking forward to my quiet mornings with God's word and my prayer journal. I have worn out three Bibles in those years...all gifts from my beloved Mom (who has now moved into her glorious new home). Maybe I need to plant a seed or hint for a Christmas present :)! Hugs
ReplyDeleteThirty years? Wow, Debbie! Now, that's inspiring to any of us who love God's Word. Yep, it's almost Christmas, so start dropping those hints.
DeleteGrace and blessings!
This is the very sweetest thing!! Your Danny is such a huge Blessing and how wonderful that he secretly planned every detail in getting this perfect gift for you. what sweet words that he wrote!! This is a true gift with such a deep heart felt meaning.. Way to go Danny...
ReplyDeleteI have to agree wholeheartedly, Shug. Danny always has a knack for figuring out what I can use when I need it, and believe me, I'm so grateful for him every single day. He is sweet!
DeleteGrace and blessings!
How sweet of Danny.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree, Christine.
DeleteGrace and blessings!
We can lament the effects of aging, or we can rejoice and give thanks for whomever dreamed up big print publishing.
ReplyDeleteAmen to that, Glynn! This has certainly been a life saver for me.
DeleteGrace and blessings!
Awww, that's so sweet of Danny, Martha. Even the special touch of pink. :) And I love what he wrote inside. Love, hugs, and blessings of reading and worshipping BIG!
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with you, Trudy, that Danny is a sweetie and so thoughtful. Glad you liked the pink cover, too!
DeleteGrace and blessings!
Large print was the perfect solution. Way to go Danny!
ReplyDeleteIt surely was, Bill. Danny's the best!
DeleteGrace and blessings!
Oh, I LOVE this post so much, Martha! What a sweet guy you have...so very thoughtful and kind. I totally understand your need for the larger print...I've been struggling with my Bible too, yet I am loathe to change it because I have so many things marked in it that are special memories from over the years. However, I find I am not using it as much and doing more Bible reading on the computer than using my own Bible because I can see it better. I miss holding my Bible in my hands and turning the pages and reading the references and notes in the margins. Maybe it's time I made the switch to a large print Bible too...there's still time to make new notes in the margins, right? Love this so much! Thank you for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you enjoyed the post today, Pamela! I know this might sound weird to someone like you who has lovingly marked up your Bible for so many sweet years, but I could never bring myself to write in the margins, etc. I do hear you about the sentimental attachment and missing holding your Bible in your hands. Why don't you order a large print one and perhaps use a
Deletemagnifying glass to transpose your old notes into a journal? Just a suggestion.
Grace and blessings!
This is wonderful - I real love story in two realms.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, it is, Sandie. What a great observation you've made here!
DeleteGrace and blessings!
I was going to suggest a large print Bible but your Danny thought of it first. I sooo get it! I began reading more large print Bibles and library books in recent years. It makes such a refreshing difference. Yes, I love what Danny wrote in your Bible.
ReplyDeleteI'm at the point, too, Barbara, that I want to read all other books in large print or at least not in microscopic type. I've truly seen the difference it makes to enlarge the font. Yes, I thought what Danny wrote was fantastic in more ways than one.
DeleteGrace and blessings!
How wonderful!!! When I first started reading this, I was going to suggest in my comment that you get a large print bible. And what a cheerful color!
ReplyDeleteAnd Danny beat you to it, Ginny! Yes, pink is a cheerful, bright color that is my favorite next to blue. I'm simply enjoying reading the Bible immensely since I'm using the large print version.
DeleteGrace and blessings!
Hooray for Danny! I love how he pulled off this surprise ... especially the inscription. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteHooray for Danny, indeed, Myra! And I'm so glad that you liked the inscription, too. Yes, I'm happily reading away.
DeleteGrace and blessings!
What a sweet, uplifting, and heartwarming post, Martha. And what a sensitive, blessed, and loving thing your guy did for you. It was downright inspiring to read, not to mention convicting. It makes me want to start looking for something like that I can do for Diane that would mean as much to her as what Danny did meant to you. Things that he did for you are so far beyond the usual kinds of things that guys tend to do for their wives--not that flowers, candy, and dinner dates are bad or unappreciated. It's just that a gift like Danny's touches things in a different dimension altogether. So, thank you for sharing the blessing with us, and give him a hug from your fans here in Middle Tennessee and may your time in your new Bible bring some BIG rewards.
ReplyDeleteOh, Ron, don't sell yourself short! I'm willing to bet that there have been many times in your marriage to Diane that you have gifted her with just the right thing at just the right time and when she needed it most, and I'm willing to bet she's done the same for you. Isn't that what marriage is all about? It is, beyond a doubt, so comforting to know that we are understood and appreciated as we age by those we love. May God always bless Diane and you in all times and in all places!
DeleteGrace and blessings!
Kudos to Danny for such a thoughtful gift AND going to the trouble of making it a delightful surprise for you. I love it!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Nancy. It was and is such a delightful surprise for which I'm boundlessly grateful.
DeleteGrace and blessings!
I can't say enough how much I love this post. I love the new Bible and the pink cover. Laney got a new Bible during all the ear procedures and surgeries and it has a pink zip up cover and her name inscribed on the front in gold. I'm right there with you and should consider investing in a large print Bible for myself. That Danny! He's a good one. Hope he is still doing well and you are too. God bless you both!
ReplyDeleteI love this story you shared here, Karen, about Laney's pink Bible. What an encouraging and sweet gift to give her as she faced her surgery! Yes, Danny is so thoughtful in so many ways and we are hanging in there as best we can. Leaning on God daily for strength and resolve.
DeleteGrace and blessings!
What a special gift! Enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI'm enjoying reading it every day, Diana. It is a very special gift.
DeleteGrace and blessings!
Your Danny is definitely a keeper!! A wonderful gift. Blessings!! xo
ReplyDeleteI totally agree, Terri. Danny is a great guy, for sure!
DeleteGrace and blessings!
Boa tarde, Martha
ReplyDeleteQue presente magnifico, Danny escolheu muito bem, também ganhei uma Biblia com a letra gigante do meu esposo da Sociedade Bíblica do Brasil, amei. Também estou lendo a Bíblia em um ano, é muito gratificante, aprendemos muito, a Palavra do Senhor é um rico alimento, ano que vem começo novamente, se Deus quiser, um forte abraço.
The Word of God is definitely rich nourishment for our souls, Lucinalva. So glad to know you're enjoying your large print Bible as much as I'm enjoying mine. Danny certainly did choose well and it sounds like your caring husband did, too!
DeleteGrace and blessings!
A thoughtful gift from a thoughtful guy! Be blessed Martha!
ReplyDeleteIt most certainly is, Mike. Danny is such a blessing to me!
DeleteGrace and blessings!
Perfect! A very thoughtful gift.
ReplyDeleteHugs and Blessings
It most certainly is, Jim. I'm loving it!
DeleteGrace and blessings!
Oh my goodness, Martha - what a dream. How kind of your husband to know exactly what you needed and gift it to you in that way. And a pretty pink one to boot! I may have to get a large print bible myself! Thanks for your visit to my blog too...Blessing for your day, Carrie
ReplyDeleteThis is certainly a dream come true for me, Carrie, as Bible reading has become the most pleasant aspect of my day. Danny is simply the best! Yes, the pink is a plus for this girly gal, too. I do love visiting your wonderful blog, too.
DeleteGrace and blessings!
Martha: I have been going through cataract surgeries (two). I have to wait to get reading glasses; that might be in early November. I understand about not seeing the print in your Bible. Almost two years ago, I ordered a study bible for Christmas. When I told the optometrist that I had a difficult time reading it, she responded with "Get a large print one." My study Bible is heavy enough. Be blessed.
ReplyDeleteI'm so gratified to know that you, and so many others who have commented here, know exactly the challenges that we face as we age, Cecelia. I've had cataract surgery in one eye, but still wear a contact in the other, so I certainly understand what you have been through. I do hope that you can get the readers that are just right for you! In the meantime, large print is the answer.
DeleteGrace and blessings!
Large print and a magnifying glass. My stepmother had macular degeneration and, after she died, I was given a lot of her magnifying glasses.
DeleteMy mother had the same macular degeneration, too, but she refused to get a magnifying glass. She simply stopped reading.
Deletewhat a wonderful gift!! and so thoughtful too.
ReplyDeleteThis gift has been such a life saver for me, Jean. I can only testify that my daily Bible reading has now become the most satisfying time of my day. Thanks, Danny, and thank you, Jesus!
Delete🪶 Bonjour Martha, sublime la nouvelle Bible, c'est merveilleux de le lire,
ReplyDeleteAvec un retard dont je m’excuse, je viens enfin déposer ces mots, tardifs mais sincères.
Que ce samedi vous soit une halte claire, un instant suspendu dans la cadence des jours.
Ce samedi se dresse comme un seuil d’heures singulières, où chaque minute s’auréole d’une gravité discrète.
Que votre week‑end se déploie tel un manuscrit d’instants rares, enluminé de silences fastueux et d’éclats inaltérables.
Je vous adresse mes pensées les plus cordiales, et vous souhaite un très beau week‑end.
Amicalement bise
Pardonnez ce passage aux heures retardées,
Mon silence pesait comme voûte voilée.
Ce samedi s’érige en portique d’éclats,
Où l’instant se sculpte en marbre délicat.
Que ce week‑end s’étende en vaste clair‑obscur,
Tissé d’instants graves, d’échos nobles et purs.
꧁❃ © Régis-F-Au Fil de la Plume🦅❃꧂
Thank you so much for this thoughtful and lyrical comment here, Regis. May your weekend days be full of joy and bright revelations.
DeleteGrace and blessings!
Pensei que tivesse decidido marcar uma consulta no oftalmologista.
ReplyDeleteAbraço de amizade.
Juvenal Nunes
Nope, but thanks so much for your concern, Juvenal.
DeleteGrace and blessings!
What a wonderful gift. What a wonderful husband! That was such a thoughtful thing to do. Sure wish I could read and stick to it the way you do, Martha. Oh, I have read all the New Testament, but I just can't get through the Old Testament. I'm bad about just picking up the bible and reading wherever it falls open. Of course, that's better than not reading at all, but still not like I need to be reading and studying. You are such an encouragement. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Henny Penny, for your kind words here. Yes, I've been enjoying the large print and my study time so much more. Danny is such a thoughtful guy, I agree.
DeleteGrace and blessings!
Oh, how sweet and thoughtful of Danny! Congratulations on your new beautiful Bible!
ReplyDeleteI agree, Cheryl, that this is a most thoughtful and sweet gift from Danny. I'm enjoying reading my Bible like never before.
DeleteGrace and blessings!