When a mother who had taken cocaine and oxycodone during her pregnancy gave birth in May 2001, her baby boy was born at just 26 weeks and weighed a mere one pound, 12 ounces. Christopher Duffley was so frail his chances of survival at first were very slim. During those critical evenings, his aunt prayed for God’s help.
Christopher survived but faced numerous challenges, including both blindness and autism. At just five months old he was removed from his parents and placed in foster care. His aunt soon adopted him.
Though Christopher did not begin talking until first grade, a teacher realized he had perfect pitch when he was only four. Six years later Christopher sang Open the Eyes of My Heart at his church. Someone posted a video which has since been seen by millions. His aunt described her nephew’s impact saying, “When Christopher sings Open the Eyes of My Heart, he teaches us to not see everything with our eyes, but to see things the way God sees things through our heart.”
When Our Daily Bread shared Christopher’s story in their October 11, 2023, devotional, they referred to the Apostle Paul’s words in Ephesians 1:18, “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.” (NIV)