I couldn’t help but laugh myself. To the point that I almost rolled on the floor. As my co-worker sitting on the blue chair, almost fell out of her chair from laughing too hard. She was busting so loud that everyone’s attention turned to her.
I just got done helping the LVN’s with the morning accuchecks on the female side. I finished checking all the female inmates’ blood sugar checks and that was when her laughter filled the entire clinic. Along with the other nurse, sitting in front of the computer monitor. With her head bent down as if she was fixing something. I saw a little plastic bottle on her right hand. It looked like a bottle of glue.
“Are you okay?” I asked as the other nurse who was laughing so loud and continuously was seeming to be out of breath by then.
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The other nurse turned and said, “Yeah, I’m fine…” As she turned, I saw one of her fake eyelashes on her left hand. No wonder! It fell and she was trying to put it back with that glue. She was talking to the other nurse when it did and ever since, that nurse couldn’t stop laughing.
I did, too. I ended up joining the roaring laughter. To the point that my stomach hurt!!! For how long everyone was doing it, time seemed to stand still…
Fake lashes. Fake hair [extensions]. Fake everything. True and lasting beauty comes from the inside, not outside. A woman who fears the Lord and obeys Him is the one whose character and qualities lead to enjoyment, success, honor and worth. This is true beauty. From the inside out.
“Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.” - Proverbs 31:30
The yellowish drainage oozed from a tiny puncture-like wound coming from the inmate’s left hip. As I pressed to make the drainage come out more, despite the pain, he felt relief. I applied more wound cleanser and stuffed the deep wound with a special kind of dressing inside. Covered it well with a very absorbent dressing, as the deputy and the LVN nurse who saw him earlier and requested me if I could do the dressing change were watching, disgusted.
“How long have you been using heroin?” I asked.
The deputy and the LVN looked at me surprised at the question I asked.
The inmate looked dumb-founded. Quiet for a few minutes and not sure what to say.
“Go on,” I added. “You can tell me. Don’t worry. The deputy will not use your answer against you because I needed to know this information before I have the doctor see you this morning,” I explained.
Unable to move his hands as they were both securely held behind his back with the silver handcuff, he said, “Yes, Ma’am. I’ve been using heroin heavily for so long now, I can’t remember.”
“That’s all I needed to know,” I uttered.
“Thank you for taking care of my wound,” he replied. He started tracing back his footsteps where he first walked in, the unit’s deputy right behind him, thanking me for treating the inmate.
“That was disgusting!” exclaimed the LVN. “But how did you know that he was using heroin? I thought he just had that abscess when he got arrested.”
“I just know. Working here for many years now. It doesn’t hurt to ask anyway,” I replied.
“Thank you nurse rcubes, for helping me treat that inmate. You were so nice to him,” she said.
“Don’t need to thank me. That’s our job here,” I retorted with a smile.
Nice to him? I was only paying back God’s goodness to me. Me? A wretched sinner who deserved punishment and God’s wrath, obtained His mercy instead. Forgiven. My spiritual wounds treated and healed by the merciful Savior. I am a sinner like that inmate. Like him, I also need God’s love and mercy. His compassion never fails. When our awareness of sins overcome us, His compassion never fails.
We should never be afraid to come to God for a clean slate and a renewed life.
Thank You Lord for forgiving me. Thank You for treating my ill ways and addictive behavior toward the worldly things. Thank You that when I confess my sins, You don’t hold them against me. And through Jesus, I obtain Your forgiveness, Your love and mercy.
“O Israel, stay away from idols! I am the one who looks after you and cares for you. I am like a tree that is always green, giving my fruit to you all through the year. Let those who are wise understand these things. Let those who are discerning listen carefully. The paths of the Lord are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them. But sinners stumble and fall along the way.” ~ Hosea 14:8-9
Friends, lifting you all up in my prayers. The Lord knows all of our needs. Praying for humbleness to be in our daily walk with Him. Through that, we are able to seek His guidance. His will.
Jesus is the Supreme example of humility.
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!"
~ Phillippians 2:5-8
May you all be empowered by the Lord's might and power as you do the important work for His Kingdom [we all do!]. In your weakness, be reminded He is our strength. In your lack of supplies, He is our Greatest Provider. In sickness, He is our Greatest Physician. With your thirst, He is our Source of Living Water. No matter what dire consequences you are facing, He is the Source of joy! May God bless you all richly and may you continue to focus on looking up ahead, straight, onto Jesus! May you all have a wonderful week, being strong in the Lord's mighty power. To God be the glory always!
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He was a respected Lieutenant, who just retired from law enforcement. But after that, he became the top official in a famous university’s security group. He must be the envy of other law enforcement officials. Then….
Not anymore….as my co-workers and I gasped at his booking photo. Booked for molesting a young person at the young age of 14. The teenager had grown to become an adult and turned around and squealed on what he had done. To her counselor, she spoke about the abuse he had done with her. To everyone’s shock!
Who would have thought? When the one who was supposed to protect someone was actually the perpetrator of this ugly crime?
Isn't it true for most of us, believers...that we still fall into sinning?
"But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different than what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it." - 1 Corinthians 10:13
Yes, we can overcome falling in the traps of sins. By choosing to do what is right and praying for God's help. Running away from those tempting situation is our first step towards victory.
"Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God's right hand in the place of honor and power. Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth. For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your real life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory." ~ Colossians 3:1-4
"So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust, and shameful desires. Don't be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry. God's terrible anger will come upon those who do such things." ~ Colossians 3:5-6
Friends, sorry if I haven't been able to visit you all. I'm actually on a break but this came to my heart few minutes ago. May God bless all of you and protect you. Thank you for all of your prayers, loving thoughts and encouragements. "Be strong in the Lord's mighty power!"
