“Whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, you must do all for the glory of God.”
- 1 Corinthians 10:31
I saw the wisp of smoke as she struggled with every gasp of breath in front of my 2 co-workers and a few deputies. I just came out from that medicine room where a big machine pulled the medications needed for that morning, for the 3,000 something inmates housed in our detention center.
Her back was facing me. I thought how odd that she was not dressed like one of our inmates. My co-workers and the deputies looked more relaxed but at the same time, edgy for her. I went around one corner and saw her whole face this time. No wonder, it was one of our co-workers from the custody staff. She was known for being a smoker. She got hit with pneumonia and as she was working that night, controlling all the doors in her unit, she got so short of breath. The deputies working with her panicked a bit and decided to bring her to the Infirmary, where my 2 co-workers were there. Not to my knowledge as I pulled the morning and noon doses.
“Try to relax!” I hollered to her. As it was an emergency and there was no time to call for any outside sources, my co-workers decided to give her a med-nebulizer treatment to help her constricted lungs. She started looking better after a few minutes. As she regained her normal rhythm with her breathing, the Sergeant sent her home after. She kept thanking my co-workers.
When it was just the three of us, one of the treating nurse yelled to the other one who helped her put the gadgets together, “We should be given an award!!! We saved a life!”
“I know,” the other nurse responded. She went closer to her and gave each other a hug and a pat to their own backs.
These 2 nurses unfortunately, were known for being lazy. Surfing on the web on nights that they worked and all night long talked about others.
“I’m glad you guys helped her out,” was all I said.
That morning, they were non-stop praising themselves for the “heroic act” they had done when the day shift crew came in. They were loud and kept telling everyone about the help they had given that Custody Specialist.
Jesus had warned us not to let “our left hand know” what the right hand is doing. He taught us that our motives for giving to God and towards others must be pure. Sometimes, we feel so good about the outcome that we end up with mixed motives. But Jesus wanted us to avoid giving out of pleasure.
“Take care! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired, because then you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give a gift to someone in need, don’t shout about it as the hypocrites do - blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I assure you, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone, don’t tell your left hand what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in secret, and your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you.” - Matthew 6:1-4
When we remember, God forgets! But when we forget, God remembers!
Above all, we must do everything in love. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.
Lord, I'm sorry if I take credit for the things that I do. Help me remember to do everything for Your glory! You deserve all the thanks and praises for everything comes from You Oh Lord, the Giver of good gifts. Thank You for supplying us with everything that we need. For things we are able to use so we can help others in need. But most of all, help us remember Lord to do everything with love, the kind that comes from You. You are God alone Lord. Thank You for loving us. You are Lord of lords, King of kings, yet, You are the most humble of all. Help us see Jesus' example and help us grow to be more like Him. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
