November 22, 2013

I Hear the Rain and the Wind!

November 22, 2013

What a storm!  A strong cold front has blown its way through the state of Texas, from the panhandle to the southern border.  The winds picked up late this afternoon.  There had been showers during the day, but those were light and brief.  Then around dark the rain really increased, and the winds have continued.  The lightening and thunder add to the display.  This is a noisy rain!

Since the Cochlear Implant, I have been able to hear the rain, usually only when I open a door or a window, but this one I could hear where ever I was in the house.  I have opened the front door a couple of times to further enjoy the sounds of the storm.  I have always loved stormy weather and really missed not hearing it when I was deaf.

Speaking of "when I was deaf."  I need to ask someone who really knows - am I still deaf?  I consider myself still deaf since without the sound processor on, I am deaf.  But with the sound processor on, I hear a lot - not everything, but a lot.  I keep meaning to ask the audiologist that question. 

As I was about to leave the house this morning to go to the office I noticed that the house was warmer than I like it.  Checking the thermostat showed that the temperature was rising.  It was predicted to be about 87 today before the arrival of the front tonight.  I texted Ron and he called our friend,  Bob Middleton at Middleton Air and Bob said he could come this afternoon to see what the problem was.

I went on to the office and paid some bills and waited on customers while Ron went on a couple of jobs.  After lunch he texted that Bob was headed to the house to work on the air-conditioner and that he (Ron) was almost to the shop, so for me to head home to meet Bob.  Bob has been doing our A/C work for many years and he and Ron  have known each other for probably over 20 years.  Bob is a regular reader of my Facebook postings and my blog.  He laughed when he read my story about the magnet from my coil jumping off my head and getting stuck to assorted other metal objects.  He had questions about how I was doing and about the hearing.  We had a nice visit. 

Bob has a daughter who was born very prematurely, and is now 18 years old.  When she was in the hospital for such a long time at the beginning of her life, she needed some blood transfusions.  One day I donated blood for her and was later notified that she had received the transfusion of my blood.  I think for that reason, she has always had a special place in my heart, because some of my blood was flowing in her heart.  I have not seen this precious young lady often, but she is special to me.

Over the years God has blessed me by sometimes allowing me to know when someone has been given a blood donation that I have made specifically for that person.  I know of at least 4 people who received transfusions from me.  Other times I have donated but not known who got the blood.  It creates a special bond when you know that you have given of yourself - your very blood - that someone might have a chance to live.  It makes me think of the fact that Christ gave His blood to offer us each an opportunity to have the gift of Eternal Life, not just a few more years here on earth.  The bond He wants to have with us is a personal relationship with Him.  He shed His blood on the cross, to pay for my sins, that I might have Eternal Life.  Not all of those that have received my blood have been restored to health.  My blood did not guarantee them life, but the blood of Christ can give Eternal Life to any of us who accept His free gift.  We need only to acknowledge that we are sinners, and that Christ paid for those sins on the cross with His blood.  In doing that, we also need to turn over our life to Christ, letting Him live in us, as we glorify Him.