The Journey Continues:Caregivers

Yesterday morning when I got to the hospital I found my husband just a tad upset with the caregiver that had taken care of him during the night.  It seems that if someone is going to be a nurse or an aide then that person should keep their personal opinions  to themselves.  I am thinking that when you are a caregiver you should take an oath to treat everybody the same whether you like them or not.

Now I am not saying that my husband or any other patient is never wrong, or cranky but to the nurse or aide their motto should always be that the patient comes first no matter how many times that they push their call button.  You signed up for this!!  I have also noticed during the eight hours or so that I am with my husband during the day that some of nurses or aides during the time that I am there come to work cranky and they don't leave it at the door when they walk into the hospital.

The night aide called my husband a name as he left the room the night before as he left the room.  My husband also made the comment that he had heard him call another patient a name the night before.  Of course I talked with the head nurse and Richard didn't have this particular aide last night but I hope that that aide was told he needs to treat the patient with dignity and respect!

Okay rant over but I can tell you that there is One who treats us all the same.  It doesn't matter if a person is sick and cranky.  It doesn't matter if it is an opinionated caregiver.  It doesn't matter if that person is beautiful or ugly.  It doesn't matter if a person is rich or poor.  The One that came to die on the cross came so that we might have eternal life and His name is Jesus!

If you are a caregiver having a hard time being nice to patients that you don't like, or  that you think push that call button one to many times, you can leave it at the Saviors feet.  If you are the patient being called names and have cranky caregivers you can leave it at the Saviors feet!  If you are that upset spouse you can leave it at the Saviors feet.  No matter where you are or what your mission in life is you can leave your sin at the Saviors feet!  He doesn't care how many times you push His call button! Jesus is the ultimate Caregiver!

Do you know my Savior?  He is the one that can give you the grace to treat people with dignity and respect!

John 3:16-17New International Version (NIV)

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

TOP

The Journey Continues:Update on Richard

                                               

I have gotten out of the habit of blogging and giving updates on my husband.  I am going to try to do better because I do like to write!  Life has gotten pretty hectic in the last few months.  Just a quick overview for those that don't know, Richard fell and broke his hip on July 28th with surgery on the following day.  On August 18th and then again on August 19th that hip popped out so another surgery on August 20th.  The surgeon thought that if Richard could make it four weeks that everything would be good to go.  Nope not quite, on September 17th exactly four weeks out, that hip popped out again.  We were told that it had not healed and that it looked like mush.  This was very frustrating for Richard who is very much ready to get back to work. He will be having another surgery but this time at OU Medical.  We have seen the surgeon there and pre op things have been done.  Just don't have a date yet.  They are going to check the blood work and the test results before giving a date.  Richard is ready to escape from the hip problems and head back to work.

                                                   

Even though this is frustrating to Richard and I(more so to him) we know that the Lord  has a plan and that no matter what happens something good can come out of this situation and every situation!  We do know that God is the one that gets us through times like this!  We both would appreciate prayers for healing,wisdom and strength!  Maybe this is a thorn in the flesh but God's grace and strength is sufficient!

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NKJV)

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me,“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

The Sun

Sunday in Enid we had hopefully our last blast of winter and woke up to snow on the ground.  It wasn't much measuring maybe an inch but it was nice to look at.  On the way to church the sun broke through the clouds in a glorious display! It sprinkled light over the earth and showered it's rays over the snow.

We left church a few hours later to find that the sun had brought forth enough warmth that most of the snow was gone leaving an ugly picture behind.  It had melted the snow showing the brown grass, mud and a few straggling green plants.

It reminded me of the Son.  The One who's light exposes my ugliness left behind after my exterior is stripped away.  His light melts through my outward appearance and uncovers the truth.  It shows the nasty sin that lives inside.

The good news is that the Son's light covers me and will shield me.  He saved me!!  He looked beyond my selfish desire and covered me with His blood. His light now shines in me!

What about you?  Are you covered?

Ephesians 2:4-6

New International Version (NIV)

⁴ But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. ⁶ And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

1. Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing pow’r?
   Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
   Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
   Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
   • Refrain:
     Are you washed in the blood,
     In the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb?
     Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
     Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
2. Are you walking daily by the Savior’s side?
   Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
   Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?
   Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
3. When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white?
   Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
   Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright,
   And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?
4. Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,
   And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
   There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
   Oh, be washed in the blood of the Lamb!

Elisha A. Hoffman, pub.1878

The Long and Whiny Road:Children, cars and obediance

I grew up cruising Highway 66.  It was one of the roads that I traveled while in Drivers Ed class.  It became well known to me especially the stretch from my house off of Highway 177 onto 66 that lead into my hometown of Wellston.  Technically my three son's hometown is Wellston also and they spent some of their  first years traveling that stretch of road.

When my youngest son was around a year old the powers that be started cracking down on seat belt use.  It was going to become mandatory to use seat beats.  I remember that there was a period of time that we had to get used to this and to start using them.  It was a grace period.  If we got caught we would get a warning.

I was heading into town one day in my little Toyota Corolla.  I had some big boxes in the back seat and my youngest was wedged into the corner almost hidden by the big boxes.  He fell fast asleep as his two older brothers shared the passenger front seat.  I was almost to town when I noticed a car behind me.  It was a highway patrol car.  I instantly cautioned my two in the front seat to sit still.  Well my number two son had this problem.  He sometimes liked to do the exact opposite of what I told him to do.  He immediately jumped up, stood in the seat facing backward and he had a really good view as the red lights came on.

I pulled over and I cautioned the boys to just be quiet.  The youngest was still in the back sound asleep.  The officer made it to my window and looked in.  At that very instant my number two son decided to cry, yell and scream at the top of his lungs.  The officer very quickly assessed the situation and let me off with a warning.  He did lecture me on the safety of using seat belts and keeping children safe while my son screamed the whole time!  My youngest slept through the whole thing.

I wonder how many times that I have done this as a Christian.  I hear God telling me to do something but I do the exact opposite.  Why on earth would I do that?  Just as I grew up with a knowledge of Highway 66 around the area of my hometown I have known my God for a long time.  He knows what is best for me and what I am capable of so why would I do the exact opposite of what I am suppose to do?  It must be my nature, or I think I that it is something I jut can't do or maybe I think it is too hard.  I need to listen, obey and respond just as I wanted my own children to do.  God wants me to use His seat belt!    Sometimes God gives me a grace period and another chance.  Sometimes I receive a ticket.

What about you?  Are you traveling the road of obedience?

Psalm 119:4-6 (NIV)

⁴ You have laid down precepts
that are to be fully obeyed.
⁵ Oh, that my ways were steadfast
in obeying your decrees!
⁶ Then I would not be put to shame
when I consider all your commands.