For if
anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. –
Galatians 6:3 (NASB)
Everyone
who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; Assuredly, he will not be
unpunished.
-
Proverbs 16:5 (NASB)
But
He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD,
BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." – James 4:6 (NASB)
Do
nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one
another as more important than yourselves; - Philippians 2:3 (NASB)
Like
clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of his gifts falsely. –
Proverbs 25:14 (NASB)
We
are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the
knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of
Christ, - 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NASB)
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| Photo Credit |
“Blowfish!
That’s it! You’re like a blowfish!
(expletive)…” yelled the deputy who brought a 19 year old male, newly-booked in
our prison.
Sitting with his wrists cuffed behind his back, he looked
briefly at the deputy, then to each of our (medical staff) faces, his eyes
burning with arrogance that he didn’t do anything wrong. He just wanted to help
himself.
“What happened? I just saw you 2 hours ago?” asked the
male nurse who previously treated him.
Two hours prior, he was about to lie down on the assigned
small bunk in his segment. He felt a strong blow to his left eye as
discoloration quickly set in. His left eye becoming puffy. Another blow hit his
mouth where he sustained a small cut on the middle of his bottom, slightly
swollen lips. Being new, he was a target by those inmates prowling on
newcomers. Making a statement as if they owned that place. Because they were
strong. Fists proving such power. He didn’t fight back as the deputies in the
unit stopped the fight on time. Before this young man succumbed to more
injuries.
The male nurse made sure he didn’t need to go to the
hospital. But gave him medications to help with his pain and swelling.
The medications were not that strong but its strength was
the maximum correctional nurses were allowed to dispense to sick inmates. He
claimed he took a few but he felt the pain becoming more intense. No relief…That
despite the harsh event that occurred at first, was replaced by another caring
inmate wanting comfort for him that he offered his own medications issued by the
doctor to this young man. He swallowed a few. The name he forgot according to
him. Few minutes later, his lips swelled three times its size. His complexion
becoming red all over and with itching that came on, he started scratching his
arms until they became redder. He was
obviously allergic to what was given to him.
“That’s why you’re not supposed to take anything that
anyone gives you here except what is given by the medical staff,” yelled the deputy.
We sent him out as the doctor requested we not gave him
anything until he examined him himself. A couple of syringes and IV medications
on hand as I also ran to get an Epi-pen on a stand-by as we waited for the
ambulance to take him. In ER, he was given the same medications we had
prepared. Every nurse was concerned and made sure he was able to breathe. His
lips returned to just a mild swelling he sustained from the punch earlier. The
redness on his body completely disappeared. He wasn’t checking each of our
faces anymore. He was looking with more gratitude as I sensed despite the lack
of words. He knew, he was trying to be self-reliant and not believed what was
told by the treating nurse. Instead, listened to another inmate he shouldn’t
have trusted.
“I’m feeling better now…” he spoke.
“Thank you…” he added as he looked at each nurse’s faces…He
got up and this time we, the medical staff knew…He would be a better listener…
Especially to medical advices…Because no inmate knew better when it came to
saving lives. And even if they were medically trained outside, they were not
authorized to do so behind bars.
His shadow was long gone but still remained in my memory.
The shadow that resembled mine once. Surely, I was a “blowfish” like him. Puffed
up with pride before Christ’s grace resided in my heart. Self-reliant. Thinking
I could do everything on my own. But I was wrong. Christ proved me wrong. For
pride was not from Jesus. And as He
helped me be quick in not letting my “head”
and “heart” puffed up ever since, He also taught me first…in knowing
when to spill compassion and to give favorable allowances to others’ faults.
In the first place, I must try to describe pride to
you. I might paint it as being the worst malformation of all the monstrous
things in creation; it hath nothing lovely in it, nothing in proportion, but
everything in disorder. It is altogether the very reverse of the creatures
which God hath made, which are pure and holy. Pride, the first-born son of
hell, is indeed like its parent, all unclean and vile, and in it there is
neither form, fashion, nor comeliness. – Charles Spurgeon
