Everyday Valentines

“I’m having more irritation and discharge than I expected.” Yesterday, after cataract surgery, I’d called the ophthalmologist’s nurse. I hadn’t met Judy before.

heart Pictures, Images and Photos”Have you taken Tylenol, sweetie?” Her endearment put a smile on my face.

“Yes, but it’s still painful. Is this pain and discharge normal?” That’s all I needed.

“I think so. The doctor is on the floor, let me check.”

She soon came back. “Yes, he says its fine. It’ll get better, dear. Just lie down and keep your eyes closed.”

I thanked her, as I thank every nurse who takes their patient’s pain seriously. Judy did it right. She listened carefully. She reassured me. And she did not shame me.

She gave me a valentine, something nurses do everyday. Valentines show love among intimates. Though I am a stranger to Judy, she gave me an intimate gift. In pain, our hearts are exposed. Her acceptance touched me like a rose in a desert.

Like she said, in a few hours I was better. And grateful, once again, for a nurse’s heart.

Father-God, thanks for Judy and all those nurses who give everyday valentines to their patients.

Through Danger and Toil

The day has come. Today is the last day of Jerry’s work with the city. For almost thirty years, as both an electrician and a parking meter technician, he has faithfully toiled to serve the people of Urbana.

Normal Street Backyard Pictures, Images and PhotosA Valentine’s day, 1990, ice storm injured his back, but it was the accident on July 7, 1992 that nearly electrocuted him.

It was a dangerous job, electrician. That day, he cut into a series streetlight wire that had been switched off. But, disrupted by lightening, the circuit was still carrying 6.6 amps. Five milliamps is enough to kill.

God, though, carried him through. After six months of recovery, he went back, soon shifting to working with non-lethal parking meters.

We’ve imagined this day. We’ve prepared for this day. We’ve hoped for today. We were not entirely sure it would ever come. Cancer might have ruptured our hope. Another accident could have stymied our dreams.

What are you waiting for? What day are you dreaming of? Like us, what you are waiting for may or may not arrive.

Unlike that great transition day of entering Jesus’ presence. If we are believers, that day is on its way. We can imagine that day. We can hope for that day. And, though we may endure much more danger and toil, that hope is sure.

Jesus, we thank you for hope.

What Do We Expect?

What we expect practically determines what we ask for.

loneliness Pictures, Images and Photos

For example, what do we expect of God? When the diagnosis is cancer, do we expect God to heal directly, immediately? Do we expect God to heal through medicine? Do we expect to die?

What do we expect of our spouse? Of our pastor, our professors, our friends, or our neighbors?

What we expect is shaped by experience. Not just experience with God or the person in question, but experience with others.

If you’re a nurse, how have previous doctors treated you? When we imagine asking a friend for a favor, we take into account not only our history with that friend, but our history with all friends.

When we’re little, parents are emotional stand-ins for God. If Mom hugged us and applied a bandage when we skinned our knees, we likely expect God to give us what we need.

In our broken world, how do we learn to expect compassion, empathy, and help, unless we’ve been given those experiences. If we don’t expect to receive a good answer, we won’t bother to ask.

Father, help us to expect what you want to give us. For your glory.