"My name is Yolanda and I have come to draw some blood!" Those words caused me
to awaken in a hurry from deep sleep. You can relate to that scenario if you
have been in a hospital for any length of time recently. That was my case - in a
Nashville hospital for heart surgery just a few weeks ago. It was something like
two AM and the night before the surgery. I looked to see a very lovely
Afro-American young lady with her "tray" as she set it down on the side of my
bed. Then I knew I must submit "calmly" so she could have as little difficulty
as possible - these "rolling" veins don't do well if I tense up! Yolanda went
quietly to work and soon I heard her whisper, "Thank you Jesus!"
Now I guess I have experienced "blood draws" a couple hundred times in the past
few years, but that was a first! ( I have had them cast down their equipment and
dash out of the room, angry!) I asked Yolanda if I heard her correctly, "Did I
hear you say "thank you Jesus?" "Yes," she replied, "I always thank Him when I
get the vein easily." Of course I told her, "So do I!"
Now this may seem an insignificant story to you, but it occurred to me that this
was a first for me and that I wanted to thank this young lady for caring and for
having such faith in our Lord. You and I are sometimes so reluctant to thank our
Lord for the seemingly "little things". In our situations where our health is
involved, it surely is reassuring to know that those who are helping you care
about the Lord! (I want to add here that there were others who helped me during
that hospitalization who were working "for the Lord" in their jobs!)
I told many people about this while in the bed, because I thought it a beautiful
story. Only one other time did Yolanda come from the Lab for blood, but when she
did I asked her permission to write a story about her. I spent much time
thinking about this scene and what it meant to me.
In our daily lives we attack many menial tasks, and we should always be thankful
to our Father when we are able to meet even the smallest challenges! May God
increase our faith that He is with us at all times and will give us the strength
that we need for each task or opportunity! It is a shame that we sometimes feel
that our prayers are too selfish for Him! That should never be our "mind-set"!
In II Chron. 4:9,10 we read of Jabez (a descendant of Judah) and so far as I can
find, this is the only mention of him. I believe this account was meant to be
noted! In verse 10 it is said that Jabez called upon God - "Oh that thou wouldst
bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast and that thine hand might be with me, and
that thou wouldst keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me. And God granted
him that which he requested." There's not a mention of any others in his
request, and it seemed that Jabez wished to prosper materially (enlarge my
coasts). One would be compelled to believe this to be a "selfish" prayer.
As God's children we can approach our Father without fear lest He not hear!
Jesus made this clear in Matthew 7:7-11, when we are assured of the open ears of
the Heavenly Father and His compassion for us as His children. We are reminded
that if our earthly father can/does give us good gifts, "how much more shall
your father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him." (Vs11)
Let us not be afraid to call upon our Father at any time and even for those
seemingly, selfish, insignificant matters! A reading from Ephesians (vss 20,21)
is most reassuring! "Now unto him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above
all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be
glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.
Amen."
A quote that came to my attention this week would sum up this article well:
"Never undertake anything for which you wouldn't have the courage to ask the
blessing of heaven." G. C. Lichtenberg
Inez B. Norwood copyright 2001 vibn@apex.net
Inez Bullington Norwood, widow of M.F. Norwood, now lives in Murray KY. She and
her husband of 47 years spent those years in the spreading of God's Word. Most
of those years were in the Southeastern part of the U.S. Four years were spent
in W. Africa. Their 4 sons and one daughter are all involved in church work in
their various communities. Since her husband's eath in 1989, Inez has busied
herself in various campaigns, most in the Carribean. Now 78, she is spending
much time in the writing of articles, hopefully to encourage and uplift all of
us in our daily walk with our Lord.
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