A Lone Chair

It was sitting there, at the back entrance of the Hulston Cancer Center. A lone chair—a chair with wheels!

I had been there many times—more than 30, but never was there a chair sitting by the door. Yesterday I was scheduled at the Breast Clinic for a diagnostic study and I wondered how I was going to make it. There is quite a distance to walk from the door to the elevator. Of course, I could have taken my own little chair on wheels, but it takes extra effort to haul it in and out of the trunk of the car and I wasn’t up to making that effort.

The problem with my chair is that it doesn’t have the big wheels on the sides and to move myself forward I have to push with my heels. No big deal on day’s I’m feeling strong, but yesterday was not one of those days. Why don’t you get a chair with the big wheels you might ask? What with my hernia it would be too heavy to lift in and out of the car.

“Excuse me,” (like my little Sarah liked to say when she visited me)—yes, excuse me for saying some words about this little problem I have. I need to get it out of my system. Living alone and not having anybody to talk to—I don’t think I’m handling it very well. So, this “talking” to my blog friends makes me feel like I’m having a conversation.

Let’s get back to the lone chair by the door. My Father was looking out for me and had someone leave it there. It was a good thing because there was quite a lot of “walking” to be done that afternoon–from the waiting room, to the desk where I signed the paper work, to the dressing room to get into the fashionable attire of a “hospital gown” and a robe, to the first part of the diagnostic, back to the waiting room, to the restroom, to the second diagnostic room, back to the waiting room, to the room where I would hear the results, back to the diagnostic room for more ultrasound… you get the picture. My Father for sure was looking out for me when he had someone leave a chair at the door.

These last two weeks have been “miserable” as my feet are concerned. The only thing I can figure out is that the nerve-endings must be inflamed. The best way to explain it is that it feels like stepping on a whole bunch of little marbles, and it’s not so easy to keep your balance walking on marbles. The pain is another story.

Let’s leave that “story” behind and do some encouragement. I read 1 Thessalonians this morning. Paul talks about ENCOURAGING the church, comforting and urging them to live lives worthy of God. He sent Timothy to them to strengthen them and ENCOURAGE them in the faith. When Timothy came back with a good report, in all his distress and persecution, Paul was ENCOURAGED because of the faith of the Thessalonians. He then writes to them about how it will be at the Lord’s return and admonishes them to ENCOURAGE each other with those words. He then tells them to ENCOURAGE one another and build each other up, as in fact they were doing. On a final note he asks them to ENCOURAGE the timid. (See 1 Thessalonians 2:12; 3:2,7; 4:18; 5:11,14.)

In Romans 12:8, in talking about gifts we have as members of the body of Christ, Paul says, “If it is encouraging, let him ENCOURAGE.” This week it dawned on me that it might be a gift I have. Looking back on my life, I can see how I have always liked to encourage people. What’s my purpose with this blog and my SEED OF LOVE ministry? To ENCOURAGE! I want to spread words of Joy and ENCOURAGEMENT. Why have I set up my “Princess Room?” So I can pamper and ENCOURAGE someone in need of love.

This gift God has given me has been in my life all these years, I have been using it, and I didn’t even think about it. I thank God that he made me aware of it –date: September 8, 2011—so that I can use it with open eyes.

What’s my word of encouragement for the day?

Even in the most painful situations you have a Father in Heaven watching out for you. I don’t know what he will send your way, but just trust him to work in your behalf. He might show his love to you in such a simple but ever-so-important act as having a chair waiting for you at the door!