“Do everything without whining or complaining." ~ Philippians
2:14
They gathered at the same table
each day for lunch. Perpetual
complainers – you know the type, everything sucked and you couldn’t convince them
otherwise. They didn’t see themselves as
negative people. Rather they perceived
themselves as forever being on the losing end of things; as drawing the short
straw on a daily basis.
Nan was the kind of person they hated - always in a
good mood, always with something positive to say. “If I were any better, I’d be triplets!”
she’d reply when asked how she was doing.
But not today.
Her headaches were now more frequent - almost constant,
without relief. Sleep came hard,
sometimes unbearable. In the last few
weeks, she sensed her physical strength waning and her mood swings
widening.
She waited anxiously before the nurse finally motioned for
her to follow. Drowsy, confused, and unsteady,
Nan knew before any diagnosis that something was seriously wrong.
The doctor called it a spinal arachnoid cyst. The exact cause was unknown and extremely
rare. “Your tumor’s the size of a golf
ball,” he explained somberly. “But we
don’t think it’s cancerous.”
Nan’s response surprised him. “That’s great news!” she said. To lighten the mood, she asked what the odds
were that her cyst was actually the rogue Lego she’d shoved up your nose as a
toddler. He awkwardly explained in
detail the implausibility of that. Most
neurosurgeons don’t get sarcasm.
“The bad news is,” he interjected, “it’s inoperable. It’s located in an area that makes surgical removal
impossible.”
“That’s even better news Doc,” Nan
countered. “I’m not big on brain surgery
anyway! Hospital scrubs, while
comfortable, aren’t really designed for gals like me. And head shaving - Ugh!”
“I’m afraid,” he continued, “that it’s very likely you’ll
become paralyzed from the waist down within the next 12 months.”
That got her attention!
For a healthy 20-something woman, that news was definitely discouraging. It could’ve ripped Nan’s heart right
out. But for her it was only a slight
blemish on her otherwise positive spirit.
Instead of hailing a cab for the long ride home, she decided
to walk – to appreciate the movement in her legs. Along the way she prayed for the complainers,
that they could envision a God like her God.
One that in the face of despair, has the power to energize; the power to
heal. That in the face of anguish brings
hope.
We all vent to get things off our chest occasionally. But remember, if you have to complain about
something to God, complain about the sin that keeps you from Him. We can complain to God because He's big enough
to take it. And even then, we won't have
to complain long, because He tells us that if we trust Him, things will always
work out for the best.
Lord Jesus, All too often, my focus is on
what I don’t have. Please forgive me and
help me to focus on and be grateful for what I do have. Amen
