So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.—COLOSSIANS 3:12 (NASB)
My mother, a retired nurse, lay in a hospital bed not long after knee-replacement surgery. Her pain level was high,
but this reluctant patient stubbornly refused to be honest with her nurses.
She was certainly in a daze from her medications, but she was allowed to take additional pain medicine so she could rest and begin to heal. I grew more frustrated each time she refused the help she needed. Every time I told nurses she was in pain, Mom said, “No, I’m fine!” Finally, after several tiring hours of this, I snapped, challenging her. “Mom! The nurses can’t help if you aren’t honest with them!”
She fired back at me, “You don’t need to be here! I don’t want you here!”
It was then I realized Mom had no awareness of what was going on around her. And though her words were drug-induced, they still stung. I felt like a complete failure as her caregiver.
A week later, Mom recovered without any memory of the harsh words we’d exchanged. She was even glad I was there. But I remembered my failure and hoped someday, with God’s help, to become a more patient caregiver.
Lord, when I’m worried, remind me to step back and lean on your love rather than releasing angry words.
So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.—Genesis 1:21 (NIV)
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.—Colossians 3:23 (ESV)
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.—Romans 12:2 (ESV)
