And
Just
As
Each Person Is Destined To Die Once
And
After That Comes Judgment.
Scripture
Hebrews
9
28 so also
Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the
sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins,
but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.
Observation
This
week at the hospital ...
She
was crying when she told me, “I just don't want to die.” The
patient had Stage 4 colon cancer. She was tired of dealing with a
colostomy bag, tired of looking at it when she was in the shower,
tired of cleaning it, tired of being sick from the chemo, and even
though she had just told me that she didn't want to die, a few
minutes later told me that she had tried to take her own life the day
before. I think I understood what she meant when she said, “I don't
want to die.” I don't think that she wanted to go through the
suffering that she felt was ahead of her.
So
what would you say to her?
I
pulled up a chair and we talked about life. While we were talking she
told me that she had lots of support. She said that her Mom was still
living and she had kids that loved her.
So
I said to her, “Look, you and I are both going to die. You might
outlive me. We don't know. I have a badly damaged heart. Everyday
that I wake up I am just glad that I have another day to be with my
family. But one day I am going to die. And when I do I will be with
Jesus!”
I
shared with her much God loved her. How precious life is! God didn't
cause her sickness, but He has allowed it. I shared with her that God
would walk through this difficult time with her if she allowed Him
to.
When
I left that room I was hurting for her, but I think she was
encouraged and I think that she realized that she did have something
to live for.
It
is definitely a terrible time to be in the hospital. No visitors
allowed. Isolated from the people that love you. It is way too easy
for someone like her, in her condition, to feel overwhelmed and
totally hopeless and helpless and want to end it all.
Oh,
how I love my job!
Application
I
will continue to share the Good News of the Bible every chance I get.
I will be Jesus' hands and feet!
How
about you?
Prayer
Heavenly
Father, I pray for this patient right now. I pray for healing. Fill
her life with hope. Help her to enjoy her family while she has time.
Don't let her waste a minute. I pray for others who are sick and have
no hope. Help them to see that Jesus is all that they need. I pray
for the caregivers at our hospitals. Give them strength. Keep them
safe.
Daily
Bible Reading: Isaiah 11,12,13,14; Hebrews 9
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