The Hard Icing

I heard a new thing last night as I quickly glanced at the pile of paper plates, plastic forks and knives and a big box containing a medium sized, beautifully iced cake, placed on the desk by the Supervisor’s by one of our co-workers. I heard the head of our department started giving cakes every month to celebrate those who had birthdays for that particular month. As in last night…April’s celebrants… Whoever they may be…

The growing pang of hunger and the sight and smell of a freshly pot of brewed coffee were taking roots in my mind and stomach as we all labored and continuously kept hitting the doctors’ orders, trying to finish them. A couple of big bins. Despite the shortage of staff, it was always a pleasure to work with this particular crew I always worked with. Everyone just kept working. Even as we all started getting a piece and a cup of coffee, we all shared jokes, stories, and sometimes, unwelcomed grapevine tried to mix in. Yet, everyone went back to their own computer station. Answering phone calls that joined the chaotic night and seeing many hospital returns that were sent earlier to the county’s ER after different fights broke from different units.

“I wanna’ warm up this icing!” 

All of a sudden, this nurse yelled loudly and everyone looked at her with puzzled expressions as most people would want their “cakes” cold. Especially with good frostings.

“Why?” asked the Supervisor.

“Because the icing seems to be hard already…”

“Yeah! But it’s good!” added another co-worker. She turned to where I was sitting and in a quiet voice said, “We hid it in our refrigerator, Rcubes. ‘Coz we had a potluck that night we got that cake so it was just too much to be eaten with the other food.”

By then, no one was paying attention. There was no soul at that moment thinking about healthy eating habits as we all savored the sweetness from the buttercream frosting, despite being slightly hard only to have the teeth sank in a big morsel of white cake.

“That’s nice!” I uttered. For our Administrator to do that. As my mind wandered from years ago. With this same Administrator and other higher-ranking ones I faced myself as they gave me a hard time regarding my position. All the lies I heard over and over. The harsh decision they placed upon me, by demoting me to a Per Diem from working “job sharing with another nurse” for many years. (Which God turned to a blessing, much later as I pondered because after that, they couldn’t force me anymore to work in whatever shifts, in whatever days. The table turned and it was on my advantage as I gave my availability and they couldn’t do anything anymore to hurt me).

It was unsettling for me that many, many good nurses I knew and had worked with for a long time were let go…None from the higher positions seemed to have listened to what each one would say. If there was a problem, there was no immediate solution but either to intimidate a particular person perceived to be the problem or terminate them. It had been going on for years. Even now…

The cake might appeal to senses because it looked so soft and delicate. Until…One took that first bite starting with that hard icing…

And as I disposed of the paper plate, I grabbed my pen to go back to putting in the orders from the charts, I thought… how similar that HARDENED ICING was to those hearts coated with pride. They might seem to be good inside…But…

It’s easy to see, with that kind of heart, it would dull that person’s ability to perceive and understand. But even worse, this kind of heart might not recognize right from wrong…

“Go for it!” I suddenly told that nurse who wanted to melt the icing.

“If that’s what’s best for your palate, go!” 

She smiled...

(Unknown to her, I prayed...For everyone's hearts working that night to melt in His presence and be able to confess and truly know His grace, love and truth...)

If we confess our sins, he is ^vfaithful and just to forgive us our sins and ^rto cleanse us from all unrighteousness. -1 John 1:9 (ESV)

For the wrath of God ^lis revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.  For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore ^sGod gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves – Romans 1:18-24 (ESV)