“Francesca Victoria De La Cruise, get in here now!” Mom yelled from the front room. Francesca preferred to be called Frankie, but Mom wasn’t interested in what Frankie wanted at the moment. Mom using her full name meant trouble. Frankie should have quickly turned off the video game and run downstairs, but she was in no hurry to face Mom. Instead Frankie jumped into her bed and covered up with a blanket.
It wasn’t long before she could hear mom’s heavy steps, first on the stairs, and then on the wood tiles outside her bedroom. Frankie tried to be as still as possible when Mom burst through the door. “Francesca Victoria! I know you aren’t asleep. Mario Kart is still running on the TV,” Mom said as she came to stand over the bed. Frankie wasn’t ready to give up the act yet. She slowly brought the blanket down below her round, tan face and tried to look confused. “What? What’s the matter? Did you need something?”
“Yes! I need something! I need to know why you left an entire box of cereal spilled all over the kitchen floor.” Mom stared into Frankie’s brown eyes waiting for a response. Frankie stared back trying to come up with a good reason that would make Mom less mad. “Umm… I didn’t see it,” Frankie finally responded after several moments of silence. “You didn’t see it? There is literally an entire family size box of Cheerios scattered all over the kitchen floor.” Mom’s voice lowered to a tired whisper, “Frankie, this is the third time this week you’ve left messes or broken things and told me, ‘you didn’t see it.’ Can you really not see it, or are you choosing to not see it? Maybe we should get your eyes checked.” Frankie saw this as her way out of trouble. Her eyes were fine. She’d seen the mess, but just decided she would clean it later and never went back to it, but Mom didn’t have to know that... “Yeah! That’s a good idea. Maybe I do need to get my eyes checked,” Frankie agreed. “Alright then,” Mom said, “I’ll make you an appointment.”
Mom got up and headed to the door with a plan to make an appointment to get Frankie’s eyes checked. “Maybe she did have an eye problem. If not, Frankie definitely had a heart problem,” Mom thought. Mom got to the top of the stairs and turned around, “Francesca, come clean up this mess!” “Yes, ma’am” Frankie called back. This time she got up and followed Mom downstairs. She was grateful that she’d gotten off pretty easily this time. “I’m getting pretty good at getting myself out of trouble,” Frankie thought.
Two weeks later Frankie crawled into the backseat of Mom’s blue SUV on a Tuesday afternoon. “Why did you pick me up early? We were supposed to do an experiment in science class. I’m going to miss all the fun,” Frankie whined. “I’m taking you to get your eyes checked. Remember?” Mom replied, trying to speak calmly. She’d been praying that God would help Frankie see how her attitude was hurtful, and that God would give herself patience while Frankie learned to be kind. “Ugh! I don’t need my eyes checked. I see just fine,” Frankie spouted off. “Well, I made this appointment for you when we talked about how you told me several times that you hadn’t been able to see things well, including the box of cereal spilled all over the kitchen floor. I looked online to find the very best eye doctor in town,” Mom said as she handed Frankie the printout for the Divine Eye Care Clinic. The advertisement read: We work to improve all sight issues, those of the eyes, mind, heart, and soul. Frankie rolled her eyes. “Sounds like weirdos.” she thought. “Can I at least have some ice cream when we are done?” she asked. “Maybe,” Mom tiredly replied, “It will depend on your attitude.” Frankie growled under breath, crossed her arms, and leaned her head against the window for the rest of the drive.
When they walked in the doors of the Divine Eye Care Clinic, Frankie knew she was right. The place was weird. The whole giant office sat empty except for one giant man who sat behind a tiny desk at the back. Frankie was pretty sure if she started yelling, it would echo for hours. “Welcome, welcome, welcome!” a deep booming voice burst through the silent room and did in fact echo for a few moments. “You must be my 2:00 appointment. Come in. Come in. Welcome.”
“Good afternoon. I am Molly De La Cruise and this is my daughter Francesca Victoria De La Cruise,” Frankie’s Mom told the giant bearded man.
“Well, that is a full name, “ the booming voice echoed again as he directed his attention down to Frankie. Frankie glanced up at him just long enough to see his blue eyes twinkle mysteriously. “Yep. This place is strange,” she thought again.
“I am Dr. Roi. Come have a seat at my desk.” The doctor led them both to two small black plastic chairs beside his desk and plopped himself back down into his office chair. “What seems to be the problem? What is it that you are struggling to see?” he asked Frankie. “My eyes are fine most of the time, Doctor. I can see to read and write and stuff like that,” Frankie quickly informed him. “Is that so?" Dr. Roi asked, "Well, then. Perhaps it is not your eyes that are the problem at all,”
Frankie turned her head sideways like a labrador retriever in confusion. “What’s that supposed to mean?” she thought. “What I mean is…” began the doctor.
“Wait! Did I say that outloud?” I’m sure I didn’t ask that outloud,” Frankie thought, becoming even more confused.
“... there are more ways to struggle with sight than just our eyes,” Dr. Roi continued, “Sometimes the issue isn’t with our eyes at all, sometimes the issue goes much deeper. So, tell me what it is that you are struggling to see.”
Frankie just stared at him.
Mom told him the story of the box of Cheerios as well as some similar stories where things happened and Frankie didn’t seem to see the mess around her. After just a few minutes the doctor nodded his head and without ever looking closely into Frankie’s eyeballs, he stood from his chair and proclaimed, “I think I understand the problem, and I’ve got just the glasses for Frankie.” Dr. Roi slipped back into the shadows of the room and through a door that Frankie hadn’t even noticed existed until Dr. Roi opened it and walked out. Frankie and her mother sat in silence as they waited for his return. Only the consistent ticking of the clock hands could be heard… two, five, ten, fifteen minutes passed before he came barreling back through the same almost hidden door.
“Here we are, and I believe they are just her size,” Dr. Roi said as he promptly placed the glasses on Frankie’s face. “These are our Chazzat glasses. I believe they will help you to see the things you are missing.” Frankie looked down at the crumpled paper in her hand, suddenly realizing she was still holding the clinic advertisement Mom handed her in the car. She read the words again, “Divine Eye Care Clinic: We work to improve all sight issues, those of the eyes, mind, heart, and soul.” Same as last time… or was it? Frankie looked closer. As she stared at the paper, she noticed a strange twinkling around the words “heart and soul.” It was the same twinkling she had seen in the doctor's eyes when they first arrived. “Weird!” She thought, and quickly pulled off the glasses, shoved them in the case, and slammed it shut. “It will take some time to get used to them,” Dr Roi whispered gently as he shook her hand and bid her goodbye. “I’ll check in on you in a couple weeks. After some adjustments, perhaps you won’t even need those anymore.”
“Where are your glasses?” Mom asked Frankie later that night. “In the case upstairs,” Frankie replied without even looking up from the show she was watching. “You need to put them on so you can get used to them. Go get them and then help me get supper ready,” Mom told her from the kitchen doorway. “I don’t need the glasses, and aren’t we waiting for Dad to get home to eat?” Frankie replied stubbornly.
“Please just go get your glasses and come help me, Frankie. I’m tired and Dad is working late. I want to get supper done so we can get to bed on time tonight.” Frankie wasn’t listening. Her show was back on and this was a good part. “Francesca Victoria! Go do what I asked you to do.” Frankie looked up and rolled her eyes. “Why is Mom always yelling at me?” she thought. “What did you tell me to do?” Frankie yelled back. “Please go get your glasses and come help me,” Mom answered as she turned and walked back into the kitchen. This time Mom didn’t even have the energy to yell.
Begrudgingly, Frankie trudged upstairs and put on the weird little glasses. She looked around her bedroom. Everything looked the same. “Such a waste,” she thought. By the time Frankie made it down to the kitchen Mom had moved on to the laundry room. Frankie was clearing her homework supplies off the table so they could sit and eat when Mom walked back in the room. “Mom, these glasses don’t change…” Frankie's voice trailed off into silence as she looked up and saw her mother’s face. Everything else faded into a blur and all she saw was her Mother’s sad, tired eyes. The longer Frankie looked at her mom, the more she saw. She saw her sadness that Dad was working late again. She saw her tiredness from a long day at work. She saw her hopefulness in the possibility of resting soon. She saw her love for Frankie and her worry about Frankie’s attitude. Frankie felt for the first time ever that she was really seeing her mom. “Frankie, are you okay?” Mom’s voice broke through her thoughts. “Were you saying something about your glasses?” “Yeah, um, they are really weird,” Frankie mumbled, still in a state of confusion as she slowly took the glasses off and looked around the room again. The kitchen returned to normal except no matter how Frankie tried, she couldn’t seem to forget what she’d seen in her mother’s face.
By the next morning, Frankie had convinced herself that what she’d seen last night with the glasses was just a figment of her imagination. “Glasses don’t really change how you see people. Do they?” She wondered, as she dressed for school the next day. “Don’t forget your glasses,” Mom said as they raced out the door to the car. Frankie had them packed and ready to put on, more to prove to herself that they changed nothing than anything else. When she got to her first class and settled in her seat, Frankie took the glasses out, and laid them on her desk. Before she put them on, she took a close look around. Everyone looked like they always did. Sam looked angry. Angelica looked annoyed. Demarcus looked mischievous. The rest looked like their normal selves as well. Mrs. Hadler looked the same as always, a little frazzled and stressed. The classroom was crowded with papers and charts and books and computers and leftover Spicy Cheetos that someone thought would make a good breakfast and then threw on the floor. “Yep, same as always,” Frankie thought as she slowly lifted the glasses, closed her eyes, and placed them on her face.
Opening her eyes, even after what she saw last night, Frankie was still shocked by what she saw. She looked around and saw people. All of the stuff in the room faded again into a blur and all Frankie could see was the people, but not just the surface like before. She could really see them, almost like the glasses created a window into people’s hearts and souls. “Nope! That’s weird!” Frankie said as she ripped the glasses from her face. “What’s weird?” her friend Nicole asked as she sat down in her seat across the table. “These new glasses are so weird,” Frankie told her. “I think they are cute. Can I try them on?” Nicole asked as she reached for them. “No!” Frankie yelled. “I mean, they may hurt your eyes because they are prescription.” Nicole pulled her hand back and turned around afraid to ask anything else after being yelled at. Frankie knew she might have hurt Nicole’s feelings, but Nicole was a really quiet person and rarely said anything when people hurt her. Frankie wondered if the glasses might help. She decided to try them one more time.
Frankie put on the glasses and looked at her friend. Again, everything but the people faded away and all she saw was the person sitting in front of her. She saw a deep sadness, a sadness that went beyond just this moment and spoke to Nicole’s deep soul bruises. With the glasses, Frankie could see that Nicole felt lonely and unwanted. Being yelled at by Frankie only added to the pain of being yelled at by her older sister, her grandmother who they lived with, her little sister who she helped care for, and now her friend too. Without the glasses, Frankie saw the yelling as a brief moment, but with the glasses, Frankie could see that her yelling at her friend only added to the bruises on Nicole’s soul. Without thinking Frankie jumped up from her seat and ran around the table to give her friend a hug. When Frankie looked in her friend's eyes again a new light had begun to shine that wasn’t there before, a light that was helping to overcome the sadness.
Throughout the day Frankie left the glasses on. For the first time in her life she could see people. She could see what made them sad and what made them happy. She could see what made them angry or tired, but mostly she simply saw them. Instead of the people fading into the background of all the things like they used to, with the glasses, all the things faded into the background and she saw people. Frankie became very careful about her words and actions because for the first time she was able to see how her own words and actions affected the souls of others.
Before she knew it, a month had passed and a call came from the front office. Mom was at the school to pick her up early again. “What’s going on? Is everything okay?” Frankie asked as she hopped into Mom’s SUV. “Yes, Dr. Roi called and said it’s time for your follow-up appointment. I hope you aren’t going to miss anything important this afternoon at school,” Mom replied as she drove out of the school parking lot. “Mrs. Kern is showing a video on how earthquakes happen, but I’m sure she will let me watch it during study hall or something, so it’s okay,” Frankie said contentedly. Frankie’s attitude had changed so much in the last month, her mom couldn’t hardly believe it. For the life of her, she couldn’t figure out how glasses could make such a big difference, but she was grateful just the same.
When they arrived at the Divine Eye Care Clinic, they found it much the same as last time, big and mostly empty. However, there was one difference Frankie noticed immediately. The door that was almost invisible last time seemed to glow blindingly brightly this time. On the top of the door was written the words
Psalm 27:4 (Psalm of David)
One thing I have asked from YHWH, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of YHWH all the days of my life, To behold [la-chazzot] the beauty of YHWH And to meditate in His temple.
Dr. Roi came bounding out of his chair to meet them. “Hello! How is my favorite patient? Have the glasses helped you to see the things you were struggling to see?” Frankie looked into his big blue eyes and saw the now familiar twinkling. “Yes Sir, I can see a lot better now with the glasses. Thank you,” Frankie whispered humbly. “Good. Good. I’ll just put them back now,” said Dr. Roi as he reached down and carefully took them from Frankie’s face. “Wait! What?” cried Frankie, “but I need those.” “What do you need them for?” asked Dr. Roi. “I need them to see my friends when they are hurting, or sad or angry and to see my parents too. I need them to see what my words and actions do to my parents and friends. I need them to see the people. I need them,” Frankie begged as fat tears rolled down her face. “Frankie, what in the world are you talking about?” her mother asked.
Dr. Roi stepped closer and put his giant hands gently on her wet cheeks. He lifted her face so she was looking into his wrinkly sea blue eyes. “Be still, little one. This is how I know you no longer need the glasses, because now you are able to see the people with your heart. There was never anything wrong with your eyes. It was your heart that needed to be opened. Now it is, and now you are ready to keep growing and loving people better from your heart to theirs.” Frankie understood then. She nodded her head and stepped back. Dr. Roi was right. She knew it wasn’t her eyes that were struggling to see, it was her heart all along. The glasses helped her see what her heart was missing. Now that she knew, it was her responsibility to keep looking. “Thank you for showing me,” Frankie said as she tried to smile. “You are welcome, and you are welcome back anytime you are struggling to see.”
Frankie took her mom’s hand and they walked out together. “I think I’m ready for that ice cream now. Except how about I use some of my chore money and buy you some?” Frankie asked as she climbed into her mom’s backseat.
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