Can I Give You Anything?

"We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one." - 1 John 5:19(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)

"Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." - James 4:14 (ESV)

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." - Hebrews 13:8 (ESV)

"And everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” - John 11:26 (ESV)

"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life." - John 5:24 (ESV) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

She was one of those night nurses I used to work with. Being placed on a Per Diem status, I hardly saw her. Until Friday night…

“Hey, Rcubes! Good to see ya!”

“Hey Nurse H.! Good to see you, too. What’s up with you?” I returned.

“Remember when I told you about my son having his back surgery? It will happen this Tuesday…”

“Oh, yes! I’ve never forgotten. I know it must be worrisome for him to have this surgery but I hope that he will get relief from his back pain.”

“Can I help you with anything, Nurse H.? Can I give you anything?”

She moved her head side to side implying a “No” answer. But somehow, deep inside, I knew she was thinking about something. A few seconds that felt like eternity went by as she kept looking at me, eye to eye, still thinking…

“I don’t need anything, Rcubes…Just “prayers please…”

Her request pierced my heart. I felt her worries and her heartaches as a mother. How easily I forgot…

“That there comes a time in a person’s life, not only when facing life’s adversities, but even with a day to day routine, we discover that we are limited as humans.”

“Sure!” came my loud response as I whispered if she would like the two of us to pray together at that moment. A smile wrinkled her mouth as she accepted. We both went to seclusion in one of our exam rooms. I could see her excitement as she drew the curtain to give us some privacy as I went to one corner and turned down the lights in the room. We both sighed. We both closed our eyes. I had seen her cue that she was not comfortable giving me her hands. That was okay…Prayers did not need special words. Prayers did not need rituals…Prayers were the cries of one’s heart. I felt her defeat building up in her heart. But I also felt her increasing faith and reliance on God Who knew it all.

I led the prayer. She remained quiet. I wasn’t sure if she was praying but I kept pleading not only for her son, but also for her and the whole family. I knew the toll it would take not only on the person having surgery, but also for the rest of the family members who would be her son’s support. As I ended my prayers “in Jesus’ Name. Amen,” I opened my eyes only to feel slightly embarrassed that she still had her eyes closed and her lips mumbling so faintly. Tears formed in the corners of her eyelids. I bowed my head and closed my eyes again. This was a sacred moment coming from a person who chose to believe and I dared not to interrupt…

We both opened our eyes after that. She hugged me tightly and thanked me. I reminded her I was not the one hearing her cries. It was God. He was the One Who deserved all her thanks.

The smile I saw earlier remained on her face. As we both joined the working medical crew inside the Clinic, I heard her laughing as one started joking around. How foolish of me to think that I could really help her with anything! When in reality, it was only God Who could give everything. She needed Jesus. I did, too. Even after accepting His gift of grace and forgiveness...

Friends, while you're here, do you mind if you can drop a prayer for Nurse H. and her son, C. who's having a back surgery tomorrow in the morning? Thank you...God bless you all.