Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: HEALTH (10/13/16)
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TITLE: God Uses Our Lumps | Previous Challenge Entry
By Pamela Hill
10/19/16 -
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He loves apples. He eats one almost every day. So why is he sitting here in a doctor’s office, dreading bad news?
And why is he hearing slogans in his head? Life isn’t as simple as a slogan.
He can count the times on one hand that he’s been in a doctor’s office. Three times for job mandated physicals. The time he got poison oak from head to toe and needed a shot of cortisone. And the time he fell off a horse, breaking his shoulder, makes five.
The last two were actually visits to the emergency room, so he wonders if they even count as doctor’s office visits.
It’s just a little lump. A lump that is getting more painful every day it seems. So here he sits. In a doctor’s office.
He has friends that have had many operations for things gone wrong. Their lives seem filled with endless doctors appointments as one thing after another needs repairing, removing or replacing.
Sometimes, he fears that one day, everything is going to start breaking down on him all at once. Is this it? The beginning of endless doctor visits for him?
His friend, Henry, told him that his wife’s, aunt’s, next door neighbor had a lump—six months later she died.
Mary, at work, had a brother-in-law with a lump—he had to have an amputation.
You don’t appreciate something until you lose it
Enough with the slogans! Anyway, that’s not true. He’s always appreciated his health. God has blessed him with a strong and healthy body. Not a day goes by that he doesn’t appreciate it.
As the doorknob turns, and the door begins to open, his heart races.
He is greeted by a perky, young blonde dropping off his chart. “Good morning Mr. Johnson, the Doctor will be with you in a moment.” Then she is gone.
How long do they think a person can sit here, alone with their thoughts and fears.
He wishes he’d brought his Bible in. He is surprised he didn’t. He always has it with him, especially when he knows he will be waiting. This lump has him so messed up. He still doesn’t know what he’s going to teach at Bible Study tonight.
Cast all your cares upon Me
Gasping, the thought jolts him. Shamefully, he realizes how much he’s surrendered to his fears.
He counsels others daily to trust God, no matter what! And now, here he sits, overcome with fear. Where is his trust in God?
This world is not your home
He’s let his heart be swayed from the truth and allowed ‘fear of the unknown’ to consume him.
I’ve gone to prepare a place for you
What difference does it make what the Doctor says? He is destined for eternity!
Nothing can separate
Not even health issues. Remembering that he is created for relationship with God, and they will be together forever, brings a smile to his face.
I know the plans I have for you
Anything God asks of him, he will do. That’s their agreement. After all, nothing God requires will be as difficult as what Jesus did for him.
When the door opens, he is prepared. Whatever the diagnosis, he knows it is according to God’s perfect plan for him.
“Good morning Mr. Johnson, I’m Dr. Blackwell.” The Doctor looks at his chart and then says, “I see that you’re concerned about a lump that is causing you pain. Let me have a look.”
He lifts his arm. As he bends his wrist, a good sized lump pops up right at the joint.
The Doctor bends and turns his wrist several times, feels all around the lump, and says, “What you have here is a ganglion cyst. They can be very painful but they’re harmless. In the ‘old days,’ we used to take a huge book and slam it on the cyst to break it up. We can operate and remove it if you’d like, it’s up to you.”
Mr. Johnson shoves out his other arm to shake the Doctor’s hand. Grinning, and heading for the door, he says, “No operations for me Doc, thanks.”
Back at work, Mary passes by his desk and he smiles, “You were right Mary, I needed an amputation.”
Mary stops, she looks confused. “And that makes you happy?”
He winks and says, “Come to Bible Study tonight.”
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I like the circumstances in the Bible around the verse: "I know the plans I have for you." Very interesting.
You had me guessing the whole time what the news would be. The ending was well done.