Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4 ESV
This is my second story from a hospital visit. If you didn’t catch my first story from our visit to the hospital, check out the devotion from two days ago, Love’s Story, Tuesday,May 3. Suffice it to say, I was really impressed by the healthcare workers in Carillion’s Cardiac Wing.Here is a true story, the exact words from my notebook on that day.
Love is Alert
Oh, wow. In the bay next to ours, a man’s alert bell is going off. I hear him calling the nurses with the remote and also with his scared voice. I hope he is okay! With the curtain to our room closed so John can rest, I hear the stranger’s frantic cry for help. I now hear several nurses’ feet shuffling quickly to him. He seems confused and anxious as he moans to them, “I’m having a problem.” Poor man!
I could tell the nurses were compassionate because they seemed to put their love into overdrive to rescue this man from his distress. I heard and admired their care-filled words.
“Aw, honey, you know you’re just loving those bells.” And from another nurse, ” No worries. We got you. You’re in good hands now.” and from another, after they apparently got him situated, “You’re all set now. What else can we do for you?” And, “We are real close so just call us if you need anything else.”
That’s the story of love that touched my heart. I probably need to send that wing this devotion so the unknown nurses know what seeds of love they accidentally scattered to me. Just to hear their hearts without knowing them at all is a precious gift. If I ever do write a book about love’s story… I am praying about it…this will go in it. Why? Those nurses taught me something, three wonderful things actually:
- Love means relieving someone else’s stress. They ran to him at the first sign of trouble and cared for him. They were eager to do so. Love is automatic and compassionate like that. Love is on alert.
- Love means verbally committing to someone. They told him they had him, that he was in good hands. They took responsibility for him. Love commits like that.
- Love means doing more than you are asked. Love cannot help but do that. It spills out abundantly. After they met the patient’s need, they didn’t say “so long,” they asked him what other things they could do for him. Love says, “How can I care for you even more?”
Questions for you and I to think on…Who is it that we need to commit to care for? How can we relieve the stress of one of our neighbors? Have we verbally committed to anyone outside of our family? Who does that…Offers more than someone needs? (Our Lord does!) Has someone besides the Lord, ever seen us loving abundantly and committing and being generous with our heart? How cool that we can be witnesses of God’s love!
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I never expected to learn so much about love that day, but God’s plans are always amazing like that! Thank you, Lord for allowing me to be a bystander to seeing love in action and showing me what active love looks like. I will try to look more through eyes of love like You do.
With much love from the Father to you,
Christina
Glory in the Morning 