Choosing my Bible to work around migraine

How did you choose your current Bible? Is this your first Bible? 

I'll get into how I chose my current Bible, at least my main one. First, I would like to explain why I needed a new one. It all started with my determination to focus on reading the Bible if that's the only reading (and accomplishment) I get done in the day. 

Since my migraine became chronic, reading had become unbearable for a variety of reasons associated with the symptoms.  This includes reading the Word, let alone studying it. In truth, there was a huge spiritual warfare going on during the time. That's another focus for another day.  My Bible has been with me for years. I loved everything about it, and to be unable to read it, I was frustrated and lost. Then an epiphany came on a lucid morning. By this time, I had already transition to mostly analog - physical planners, notebooks, minimal screen time on tablet, no TV and back to basic with my smart phone - mainly for calls and text between family and friends.  So one morning, after listing my daily "to-do" tasks, I decided to focus on why I can't make headway in reading my Bible and wrote down the following list (it was not as neat and eloquent😅). 

Symptoms to Tackle:

1. Vision Issues - blurred vision, blurry spots, tunnel vision, blind spots, flashing lights (luckily only when my eyes are closed)

2. Brain Fog - trouble concentrating and forgetfulness (literally can't remember what I just read)

3. Brain Aphasia - not comprehending what I just read, can't think of a word or not able to communicate what I read or wanted to say or understand.

How to Tackle:

Vision Issues:

• Larger font
• Jesus words in red/different color
• Bold chapter/headings
• Single column

Brain Fog:

• Read aloud
• Transcribe what I read.
• Write down any thoughts or questions that pops up in my head before it is "gone." It is not for me to deal with it at that moment, but I will go back to it and process it. (see note below.)

Brain Aphasia:

• Sadly, I still have not been able to work around this completely when it comes to reading the Bible. I've not always wrote down what I meant to write down, so sometimes the writing down doesn't really work. By now, I would say 75-85% of the time, it does, at least to the point that I can understand my reason for needing to write that down. Hope that makes sense.

Bible Wishlist:

Must:

• Larger font
• Jesus words in red/different color
• Bold chapter/headings
• Single column
Additional Criteria:

• NIV
• Study Bible
• Not hardcover - preferably softer, flexible.
• Under $50

Now What?:

The only thing I haven't figured out is how large I want the font to be. As you can see from the pics, the font on my Bible is very small, probably between a 6 & 7 font. So anything larger will be better, yet, I would like to choose font size that would best tackle the above issues. I spent some days each with the Bibles my husband and I have and noted the different font sizes. The font size I felt most comfortable with is 11 point I had encountered with the Women's Study Bible by Thomas Nelson.  However, it did not hit all the criteria on my list. I went on Christianbook.com and did a search with all the criteria I had, and I was thrilled to come across the Life Application NIV Study Bible Large Print with a leathersoft cover. The color wouldn't be my first choice, but it was the only one on sale to meet my criteria of under $50. Otherwise it was perfect. So I went with it. 

Conclusion:

First thought when it arrived, "It's so heavy!" Then, "it's so big!" However, it became THE Bible for me. It took some time, but eventually, the progress made to overcome or rather, work around the symptoms that were stumbling me. The large font and the single column really helped a lot, at least in my mind. Not only with the ease of reading, the study notes itself and the articles available sparked a desire to read, learn and understand more. I'm not sure if it's the slower reading, but I questioned more. And that led to a whole another adventure. God used this "suffering" to bring me back to Him in the basic form - reading and knowing His WORD. 

"Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path."

- Psalm 119:105

Thank you for stopping by and reading my post. God bless you.