It’s not easy to look at incarcerated inmates without doubting them, judging them, disliking them, rejecting them. The only way is to be able to taste “agape” love. Agape love is a self-sacrifice kind of love. Agape love is of God, which is His nature. [1John 4:8 - “God is love.”].
Everything that God does flows from His love. He loves because that is His nature. He loves all of us, even the unlovable! Not that anyone deserves it, but because that is His nature to do so. God’s love was shown to us on the cross, where Christ died to save us, sinners. He paid that ultimate sacrifice for those He loves. That is a sacrificial act. Sacrificial love is not based on a feeling but a determined act of the will and a joyful resolve to put others’ welfare above your own. It doesn’t come naturally to us. If we love God, then, that agape love can emanate from its True Source.
“And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” - Romans 5:5
When we have that love in our hearts, then, we can obey what Jesus said, “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.” - John 13:34
Let us desire this highest, purest kind of love: AGAPE…Unconditional. Selfless. Always giving.
“Life is all about timing... the unreachable becomes reachable, the unavailable become available, the unattainable... attainable. Have the patience, wait it out. It's all about timing.” ~ Stacey Charter
Last month, after my son’s usual orthodontic appointment, the Orthodontist advised that he needed to have all his 4 wisdom teeth extracted as they were just crowding the rest of his teeth as they came out. They were not impacted.
We were disappointed as this could have been done at that time, while he was on vacation. It would make it tougher as he went back to school at that time. My son never wanted to miss any classes as much as possible. And being interested in tennis, he got concerned that he would not be able to play if the procedure was done during the weekdays.
It took another 2 weeks from our insurance to reply to his dentist’s referral to another oral surgeon. But from my past experiences, I had learned not to worry and knew it had to happen in God’s perfect time. The letter came one day. The request was DENIED!!! That meant, my hubby and I would have to pay from our own pocket. You know now what the title is all about as you read this. And the procedure wouldn’t be cheap! It might amount to $4,000 something, depending on what would be done. [So much so for having insurance…].
Then, our dental office referred us to another oral surgeon who was maybe 15 minutes away. But knowing in the afternoon, the traffic gets awfully bad, we would have to risk going there. So, I called two days ago to set up an appointment for anything late in the afternoon. Nothing! Everything was early in the morning. I didn’t set up an appointment. I told the receptionist that I wanted to involve my son with the decision, yes, even with setting up an appointment. I respect his request to avoid pulling him out of school if it could be prevented.
Somewhere along this, when his braces were done, my hubby remembered [I should say God made him remember?] that…that particular office [my son's orthodontist place which was 5 minutes away] offered a dental plan. So, off he went [to my son’s orthodontist office and the dental office was right there, too]. Yes!!! God approved that plan. We just need to pay $80 [covers the whole year] and for the procedure? Check this out! $17 and a few cents! For the 4 teeth that needed to be extracted. God is sooooooooo good! And why did I blog about it? Because I want to thank Him and share this experience with you [though it might bore you]….And another lesson learned how important it truly is…to wait for His perfect timing. Patience…counts. And He does really love to give good gifts!!!
And since God brought you here to let you know that He can turn “gold teeth” into “iron” [as nothing is impossible with Him], would you please pray for my son who is having this procedure this Friday, the 12th. What’s another awesome thing about it? He doesn’t have school this Friday. It is a holiday. Then, he has 2 days [weekends] to rest. So, hopefully, he can still train by Monday with the rest of his tennis team. To God be the glory! Even if He doesn’t answer our petitions, just remain trusting in Him…Thank You Lord! For everything that You give us. Thank You Lord for making it known that You are here, actively working in our lives. You are here to help us out in times of need. May I never forget to praise You and thank You for the rest of my life. May I thank you even more during times of victories, when I'm on top of the mountains, when I'm filled with so many blessings. Knowing that it's not what I did. But because of what You did. Thank You for Who You are. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
“But why won’t you give me an extra towel that I can roll so I can lift my head up? I know I need another one. I saw the doctor wrote it down,” said an annoyed male inmate who just returned from the county’s hospital after being treated for his right eye that was swollen and had bled in the white part of his eye. He was fighting against the cop so he got hit with an object on that particular eye when he was being arrested.
“Sir, I’m not going to keep repeating myself here. I already told you and this is the third time. I already had given you a permission to use an extra towel and that’s mainly to be used as a cold compress for your eye to prevent swelling,” I firmly answered.
“But…”
“Sir?”
“Just because you heard from other inmates what they got, doesn’t mean you’re going to get it. It depends on your injury and if there is no order from the doctor, nurses can’t give it to you. I told you earlier, you would be seen by our jail doctor for a follow-up. Then, go ahead and tell him so if he feels like you need it, he will write an order.”
“They didn’t even order pain meds but I’m giving you some of what I’m allowed to give you so you can be comfortable,” I added.
“I don’t understand. I had an injury like others…I know it’s going to help….”he mumble. Then...:
“Stop it! That’s enough!” a loud remark cut through from the deputy standing nearby.
“She was so nice with you yet you won’t listen. Not all your requests are going to be given. She kept explaining but it’s not sinking in your brain!” he yelled.
“Now, you can go back to your unit!” he commanded.
He looked at me. With head bowed low, he briefly glanced at me and uttered, “I’m sorry, Ma’am. Sorry about that. And thank you so much for giving my eye medications and pain medications.”
“I hope you feel better. Don’t rub your eyes and you can also request to be seen by us if you feel that it’s not improving after using the medications,” I reassured him that his behavior did not bother me.
I knew it was frustrating for him not to get what he wanted. But issuing things even extra towels could be used by these inmates to make something that they could think of. They had all the time to improvise to make things like weapons or shanks. Or if suicidal, could be used to harm even their own selves. Just because he had an eye injury did not mean he would get what he wanted and asked for.
Do you know the other side of Jesus? He exposed those people who sounded religious but had no personal relationship with him. On “judgment day”, only our relationship with Christ and our obedience to him will matter. Some will be denied to be let in into His Kingdom. Some will be rejected.
“21 Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as ‘Lord’, but they still won’t enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in heaven. 22 On judgment day many will tell me, ‘Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Go away; the things you did were unauthorized.” ~ Matthew 7:21-23
Thanks to sisters Charlotte and Ginger for hosting this warm, encouraging place once a week. Please visit Spiritual Sundays and meet many special friends who gather together, for His glory! Thanks be to God for the unity that comes from His love. Blessings to all of you...
“What happened?” I asked the female diabetic inmate as she was walking in, yawning and rubbing her right eye.
“I had done all the accuchecks [blood sugar checks] with the rest of the group and I noticed you weren’t with them. How are you anyway?”
“Sorry, they didn’t call me. Good morning, Ma'am,” she replied smiling as she had known me from the past accuchecks time. With her tone of voice comfortable to talk to me in that manner, in a friendly way yet without disrespecting me.
“I’m sure they did [referring to the person who handles all the controls in their unit]. I spoke with her and said that she kept calling you but you didn’t come out. You know, I’d still call for you anyway, right? It has to be done before you eat and you need your insulin dose.”
“Sorry again, Ma’am. Thank you for calling for me,” as she grabbed the Accucheck machine and poked her finger.
“11 Another reason for right living is that you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for the coming of our salvation is nearer now than we first believed. 12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So don’t live in darkness. Get rid of your evil deeds. Shed them like dirty clothes. Clothe yourself with the armor of right living, as those who live in the light. 13 We should be decent and true in everything we do, so that everyone can approve of our behavior. Don’t participate in wild parties and getting drunk, or in adultery and immoral living, or in fighting and jealousy. 14 But let the Lord Jesus Christ take control of you, and don’t think of ways to indulge your evil desires.” ~ Romans 13:11-14
It’s time to wake up from our deep spiritual sleep!
