His trembling hands were resting on the arm part of the wheelchair. He was just brought to the county’s ER because of his chest pain. Upon arrival, he changed his mind and signed an “AMA” [against medical advice]. Those same hands that committed big robberries and other crimes were now weakened by his cancer that metastasized all over his body organs.
Nearby, an upset deputy who took his time to escort him to the ambulance, carefully removed the chains around his ankles, with his gloved hands. Same hands that would be ready to protect the staff from disrespectful inmates.
Nurses were busy typing with their weary hands. Both of them obviously upset why this inmate refused the treatment when they knew that he was very fragile when it came to his health.
I took a box of tissue with my tired hands, too. Tired from helping our medical secretaries with paperworks that were piling up for them. I took a few, thin tissues and gave it to this inmate to wipe out the tears slowly forming in his blurry eyes.
“I’m sorry, Ma’am. I had to sign an AMA. I didn’t want to miss my first visit today,” he softly uttered.
“You have the right to refuse, Sir,” I replied. “It’s just hard because there is no doctor here around this time. That’s why they needed to send you to ER.” “I’ll have our jail doctor see you in the morning.”
He slowly pushed the wheels forward with his aged hands. Trying to have the same rhythm to make the wheelchair go faster. Until the big metal door closed behind him...
Our hands tell so much about us. They tell life’s adventures. They gain victories. They cause failures. They help. They create. They bless.
It is known that we can live for 40 days without food, 3 days without water, and 8 minutes without air. But we cannot live one second without hope. When the disciples heard that Jesus died, fear replaced their hope. Until Jesus came back - alive from the dead! And He comforted them by showing His hands and feet. Thomas missed the resurrection and would not believe if he wouldn’t see and feel [John 20:25]. But a week later, Jesus appeared again and Thomas was there in that room. And Jesus said [John 20:27]:
“Put your finger here and see my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”
And Thomas exclaimed, “My Lord, my God!” [John 20:28]
Hope…that never dies…is on Jesus’ hands… "Just believe!"
