The Wounded One

He was quiet the whole time…I wasn’t sure if he was contemplating on why he resisted his arrest and perhaps, regretting the way he did. Or he was in so much pain that his remaining strength waned at every passing second, as each wound bled and throbbed with pain.

I had everything ready in front of me: gauze, saline, wound cleanser, antibiotics, a sterile pack for wound care and some pain-relievers I had stashed in a small, tan envelope. He was screened by the Intake Nurse after being treated at the hospital. But as he was walking toward the unit where he would be housed, his wounds started bleeding. So, the deputy brought him to the Clinic and had us evaluated them again.

His left shin was swollen. The metal part of a baton etched on it, as it started to become bluish. He showed me his right elbow. There was a big abrasion that bled a little. His face, slightly swollen on the left cheek. He looked embarrassed at the same time. Not wanting to answer the deputy’s queries on what he did that precipitated the officers to hit him.

I wasn’t paying attention to their one-sided conversation. I was looking at each wound, thinking how it wasn’t even open but he looked like he was already in so much pain. And a scenery flashed in my mind that dated back thousands of years ago. When one man, sinless, was hit hard though no crime was ever committed by him. He knew this needed to happen. He had many wounds from being whipped. His head pierced with a crown of thorns. His hands and feet pierced by the nails. His side pierced by the Roman soldier. He wasn’t a felon. He was God’s only Son. Willed to die on the cross to pay for humanity’s sins. He is Jesus…..God has no obligation to save any of us. But because He loves us, He sent Jesus to take away the sins of the world…The punishment paid…by Jesus’ blood. The sentence no longer applies. And God raised Jesus from the dead. And the death sentence has been lifted from mankind, too.

“Everyone dies because all of us are related to Adam, the first man. But all who are related to Christ, the other man, will be given a new life.” ~ 1 Corinthians 15:22

But for us to be given eternal life, we must choose to believe in Jesus and repent for our sins and make Him the Lord of our lives. “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way. But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.” ~ Matthew 7:13-14
Do you know Jesus? Yes, the One wounded many years ago….The One Who died for you and me…

Fake

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.

Photo Credit
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

Abscess

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

On A Break

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!

Please enjoy this wonderful song and reminder: