Tag Archives: patient

We really are so much the same

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She could barely keep two feet on the ground as her mom paid the bill and made the next appointment.  She giggled with a grin so wide I could see practically all her teeth, and bounced up and down on her toes, looking all around excitedly.  This girl exuded joy!  Why?  She had just gotten her new hearing aids and could hear everything more clearly than ever before.  She had been nervous and hesitant, not knowing what it would be like, but I could tell she was glad she decided to give them a go.  Watching her was so much fun.  I felt buoyed up by her happiness. I joined in the fun, rustling my papers and clicking the keyboard, “Can you hear this?”  “Yes!” she exclaimed with bright, happy eyes.  It was easy to laugh and smile with her and her mom.

I remember getting my first pair of glasses as a 2nd grader and being able to see details, tree branches outside, and that there were actually things and people in the distance instead of a bunch of blurs.  I remember Christmas mornings with my brother and sister, family vacations, my first real kiss, falling in love with John, having our baby girls, and so many more of those moments that made me want to bounce on my toes and not stop grinning.

Then there was the patient who came out after getting not so encouraging test results.   Continue reading →

A mighty little tooth

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I had a nagging feeling for the past few months but I didn’t want to acknowledge it:  a tooth, already crowned a few years ago mind you, was infected and needed attention.  Having spent enough at dentists to buy them each a car I really didn’t want to make an appointment to check it out.  I finally sought help when my sinus filled up and the whole left side of my face started throbbing in pain as if saying, “Enough with this foolishness.  There’s infection in here and it has to go!”

Fortunately I work in a place where people are skilled at helping people with their ears, noses and throats.  I walked back from the front desk and became a patient.  Tests revealed, sure enough, that one side of my head was clear, the other was full of gunk and it was all thanks to that little tooth.  The people I work for went into action doing what they do so well and took care of me.  Dr. sprayed my nose to numb my throat and then put a little scope in there with a light at the end to look around.  I got a shot in my bum, not in my arm, because doc said the steroid might cause “fat atrophy” and leave a little dimple.  I had the thought that maybe he could give me a whole slew of those all across my bum then if it might make fat disappear!

He prescribed antibiotics and even gave me a referral to his dentist, saying I could drop his name when trying to get an appointment.  Relief was in sight, thanks to their willingness to stay after hours and help me.

That nagging little tooth told me a long time ago that there was a problem but I just pushed that thought back and kept on keeping on, hoping somehow it would just stop being infected, stop feeling weird and eventually stop hurting.  Walking down that path of denial, I ended up with an ouchy sinus infection.

It makes me think, what nagging feelings do I have about not so great habits, or not so healthy tendencies that I could address now before they cause big, painful problems?

God, help me to listen to my heart and to your voice if you tell me something in my life needs attention and transformation.

Investigate my life, O God, 
      find out everything about me; 
   Cross-examine and test me, 
      get a clear picture of what I’m about; 
   See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong— 
      then guide me on the road to eternal life.   Psalm 139:23-24  The Msg

He looks in love

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In this life, I’ll never be able to comprehend how God can know each person on this earth intimately and be involved in each life.  He has plans for each and every one.  He hears every prayer.  He sees each heart, however full of light or darkened still in shadows.

How did He create the universe, which keeps spreading out and expanding into space? Where is the edge of that space? How does He create each and every person uniquely different from all others who live or have lived?

There are just some things beyond our human understanding.  A big part of believing in God and following Jesus is accepting the mystery of who He is.  I do believe with every one of my brain cells and all my heart that He is good.  He sees every one of us and He looks in love.

I work in a doctor’s office and encounter all sorts of people every day – from babies to the elderly, thriving or barely making it, happy or crabby, you name it.

The other day a very thin woman and her husband walked slowly and quietly to the check out desk after seeing the doctor.   Continue reading →

Wise words from Grandma

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comfortingIn an email conversation with my dad this morning, he reminded me of a time that was tough in my mom’s life (physically at least).  She had all three of us by C-section and shortly after my little brother was born she had to have her gall bladder removed!  This was back when they didn’t do the tiny little belly button incisions.  She was hurting.  My grandmother, her mother-in-law, told her during that time, “When you’re hurting, somebody needs you.”  This took my mom aback.  Someone needs me?  I’m hurting here!  I’m the one who just had two surgeries almost back to back.  Nonetheless, during my mom’s hospital stay she encountered another patient, a lady who was hurting in her heart, not just her body.  God used Mom to encourage and bless that lady.  It may not have happened if Mom’s heart hadn’t been opened to the possibility by grandma’s wise words.

Wow – this is good truth!  One of the enemy’s biggest tactics to mess me up is self-pity and self-absorption.  There’s no better way to counter that attack, no better way to get your mind off of yourself and your hurts than to look for someone who needs you, someone you can bless or encourage or serve.

It seems that getting absorbed in ourselves and our pain actually multiplies the pain.  What seems to be a help becomes a hindrance.

We’re going through some refining big-time these days, my family and my church family.  We’ve got to lean into it, even when it hurts, because it’s for our good.   Then we need to realize that it’s not only for our good, but so we can be better at reaching to people who don’t know God or His love yet.  It’s not about us.

So I say to the Klotz family and to the New Life family, “When you’re hurting, somebody needs you.”  Look outwardly, strain your necks and hearts to see who you can love on and encourage today, lean into the refining but then keep looking at God and the purpose of it all:  to make us more like Him so we can bring more of his lost kids back to Him.

And thanks, Grandma.