“I recently visited a member of my extended family who has suddenly become almost totally blind. As I stood before him, he couldn’t see who was there. It was only when I spoke that he realized it was me, and then he gladly welcomed me with a genuine, warm hug.

As the visit went on, I became aware that—despite his blindness—the other senses were in full force. He was very attentive to what was being said, taking in all the surroundingconversations. He mentioned the wonderful smell of the supper being prepared in the oven. Then, when served, he made appreciative mention of its delicious taste.”

Our Five Senses

“This experience got me thinking. Do we often take our senses for granted? Do we treasure them, thanking God for them on a regular basis?

SIGHT: The sense of sight is so very precious. To see God’s magnificent creations: a sunrise or a sunset. A newly born, perfect little baby. The words on the page of a book. And to simply know everything was made for us to enjoy and see with our eyes.

In the Bible, the man born blind and healed by Jesus exclaimed, “One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” (John 9:25).”

“Yes, he was physically healed—able to see. But this man also “saw” who Jesus was. And his life was completely transformed.

HEARING: Being able to hear is a wonderful gift. To hear the voice of a loved one, rustling wind, the singing of birds, the laughter of children, can lift our spirits.

God questioned Isaiah about obedience; and the prophet responded soon afterward. “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send?’ … And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’ ” (Isaiah 6:8).

Hearing, then taking action—according to God’s perfect will.

SMELL: What joy the God-given sense of smell can bring to us! The smell of coffee being brewed in the morning. The glorious smell of homemade cooking. Even the smell of a brand new book can bring delight to an avid reader.

The Apostle Paul writes to the Ephesians: “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:1-2).

The gift of salvation, the fragrant aroma of Jesus’ supreme sacrifice for us all.

TASTE: How delightful it can be! Maybe it’s a certain kind of food that brings back wonderful memories, such as an ice cream sundae or a family meal shared with those we love. Taste brings comfort, happiness, contentment.

The psalmist doesn’t refer to eating food but rather to tasting something of God’s goodness and comfort, available for all people:

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him” (Psalm 34:8).

TOUCH: The sense of touch can bring comfort and joy, as it did to my family member. A hug or gentle touch can mean so much. The embrace of a parent brings a sense of security and love. The holding of a hand when someone is suffering indicates that they are not alone. A touch can bring a real sense of healing.

To a man suffering with leprosy, Jesus simply touched him: “Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth His hand, and touched him” (Mark 1:41 King James Version).

To the Very Fullest

My relative certainly questions his blindness yet somehow has come to accept it. We ourselves might also have questions and doubt at times—perhaps even about our faith: If there is a God, why is this world in such a crazy state? Why suffering? Why so many things?

Yet when we take time to pause and realize how we are so magnificently made, we must conclude that believing in God makes perfect sense.

After all, He made all our amazing senses so we can experience life—to the very fullest!

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