Outlook

​Friday I drove with Normi for five hours to Spokane unsure of Aunt B.J.’s condition.   At the age of 83, it would be bad enough to have one intestinal surgery, but she was now recovering from a second operation within a week with no food in her system and a weak heart.   Her second surgery removed a blockage the size of a football.  It was not surprising that she was very tired when we finally arrived on the 10thfloor of Deaconess Hospital and walked into her room.

B.J. wanted one of us to stay with her so Normi spent the night in her room while her other daughter Vicki and I took turns the next day.  Already, Dad had spent a night with his sister and my sister, Barbie, had come and gone from Oregon to give her assistance.  
 
Meditation
Colossians 3:15—And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called in one body, control your hearts.  Be thankful.
 
Saturday, B.J. felt and looked much stronger. Towards late afternoon as I held her left hand (in the process of adjusting her pillow), she immediately began praying.  She mentioned to God that while unsure why He wanted her to go through what she was suffering she was nevertheless thankful to Him for His help and desired to be a testimony to others.  Then she proceeded to pray at length for me!  

Lying in a hospital bed is anything but a pleasant experience.  It was hard for B.J. to sleep because nurses or doctors almost hourly entered her room to run tests, check vitals, treat her body or adjust her environment.  Craving food, fighting pain, low on rest and high on worry are not conditions that build tranquility.  Yet, B.J. steadily maintained a thankful demeanor.  She filled her anxious cup with faith and found serenity. One of her nurses commented, “If every one of my patients were like you, I would do this job for free!”  

When tubes run in your nose and arms and noise is unabated; when your blood pressure rises as your body throbs in pain; when life seems more like death and lungs are lined with fluids; when why is missing reason and when cannot be measured; can you be thankful?  What’s your outlook when the prognosis is stormy?  If you can pray for others when yourneed is greatest, you have the peace of the Messiah and He has control of your heart!  Something to think about . . . in reveration!
 
Inspiration  
My mind and heart are at peace; Jesus Christ is my all sufficient savior.—COL Joshua Chamberlain before his Brigade’s Civil War fight at the battle on Little Round Top
 
©2012 Daniel York  ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)