I hate hospitals. No offense to those of you in the medical profession. But lately, my times in the hospital have not been pleasant. Emergency rooms, ambulances, the fear of not knowing what might happen either for me or for a loved one ... it's nothing I like.
The only time that I actually want to be in the hospital is to accompany my kids when they have to see the doctor. As a Dad, there's no other place I'd rather be than to comfort them and reassure them that things are going to be okay. I remember one time many years ago when I was laid up in bed and my father said to me, "Son, I wish I could take your place." Now, as a father myself, I understand his sentiment.
Today, I wanted to go. You see, Jojo has been sick. We were concerned that she might have an ear infection. Fortunately, God provided a last-minute appointment with a pediatrician. But because I still need a wheelchair for long distances, I thought it might be too much for my wife to push me and also wrangle two grumpy little kids, one of whom is sick and complaining of ouchies in her ear. Thus, it was determined that I was not to go along with Jojo, but that my wife was to go alone.
I felt helpless, stupid, useless, and powerless. All I could do was pray. But then again, isn't that the most one can do; to call upon the Master and Creator of the Universe and ask Him to intervene? After all, He does claim to be my Heavenly Father. If anyone would want to take care of things, surely He would. He is my Daddy, and He is NOT in a wheelchair!
I went to a Bible School where I actually got to spend a little time with the 97-year-old founder before he died. He was known for many sayings, but one went like this: When there was an administrative problem, or an obstacle, maybe people who wouldn't agree, he would often say, "Well it's time to go to the One responsible." Then he would go, get on his knees, and pray.
How about you today? Is there some obstacle in your life, some situation, some predicament for which you have run out of answers or energy or solutions? Let's go to the One who is ultimately responsible and pray.
"...If your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? ... Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him." - Matthew 7:9-11 (NLT)