Difficult Seasons

Hospital Sign

Interesting things happen when you make hospital visits. Things that are not easily explained by skill, or preparation, or knowledge, or planning.

For no good reason, you start in the middle of the list instead of at the top, and that person says, “You showed up at just the perfect moment because…”

Without any forethought or knowledge, you ask a question or make a remark, and the person you’re visiting says, “Wow, it’s amazing that you said that!  I’ve been thinking about that all day.”

You sit down in the cafeteria for a quick lunch and end up striking up a conversation with someone at the next table.  She pours out her heart to you about her troubles, and says, “I haven’t had anyone to talk about this with.”

You see, none of us are  good enough to make those kinds of things happen on a regular basis. Maybe by chance something like that could happen once in a lifetime.  When it happens repeatedly, you need an explanation.

Here’s mine.  Someone bigger, wiser, and more knowledgeable than we are has become involved.

Jesus made this seemingly outrageous claim one day:  “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20)

Interested in seeing God at work? Make a bunch of visits to sick people or people in prison or feed and clothe a bunch of needy folks, and you’ll be amazed at how often you see things happen that can only be explained by as God working.

Feel free to add your stories in the comments.

(Photo Credit: Katyscrapbooklady)

Hospital

Okay, I got “tagged” by Jon Swanson, and my assigned task in the game is to write this post.  Like Jon, I’m not much for playing these internet games, but since he picked an easy list for me to make, and a good list for folks to know, I’ll play along this time.

1.  Wash your hands before you go into the room.  And when you come back out of the room.  It’s for your protection and the protection of the people you’re visiting as well.  Don’t help bugs move around.

2.  Knock gently on the door before you go in.  You’re entering what small bit of privacy the patient has left, and announcing your arrival is the least you can do.

3.  Introduce yourself and tell why you are coming in their room, “Just coming by to check on you.”

4.  Ask if this is a good time to visit.  You may be able to tell from looking around the room that medical personnel are busy doing a procedure, but even if no one else is there, it may not be a good time from the patient’s stand point.

5.  Tell them you care, listen to what they have to say, don’t tell your stories about hospitals, and keep your visit short (unless they want to talk and have you listen).

Okay, time to pass along the tag:  Steve Tucker, 5 things we don’t know about farming; John Dobbs, 5 things we don’t know about Louisiana; John Little, 5 surprising things about mountain climbing; Joyce Davis, 5 reasons mommies need cruises; and Jeremy Barrett, 5 characteristics of good coffee.