On Returning to the Doctor’s Office

“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared,  he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” Titus 3:4-5 (NIV)

Neither my 82-year-old mom nor I wanted to be at the wound clinic this morning. More than a year ago, my mom began treatments at the clinic for a stubborn wound on her ankle — a wound that still hasn’t healed. The doctors and nurses tried a variety of treatments, from simple to experimental. I learned how to change dressings. Sometimes the dressing changes were painful and nearly broke my heart. Hope alternated with self-doubt and even shame. After all, it had been over a year. Surely we must be doing something wrong?

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)

Lord, where are you in this?

This past October — tired and stressed from many months of treatments and disappointment — my mom decided to take a break from the clinic visits. The clinic staff were very understanding and told us they would be there if we needed them. At home, I continued to change the bandages. At times the wound appeared to improve, while other times it grew larger. Finally, my husband John wisely urged us to make an appointment at the wound clinic. 

“Hello, ladies!” my mom and I heard as we walked up to the check-in desk at the clinic this morning. “How have you been?” What a difference a kind word and smile can make! I felt my blood pressure decrease about 30 points as we chatted with the receptionist. But in the waiting room, we still nervously expected to be scolded for taking so long to make an appointment.

“Do not withhold your mercy from me, Lord;

may your love and faithfulness always protect me.” Psalm 40:11 (NIV)

Lord, give us strength and be with us.

“Judith?” A smiling medical assistant held the door open and waited as my mom stood up at her walker and got her bearings. “It’s so good to see you!”

Nurses lovingly attended to my mom’s ankle. They gently joked with her. And reassured me.

“Don’t worry. We totally understand how tiring all those appointments got to be.”

The doctor came in and explained that non-healing wounds are common and that there was no reason to feel that we had failed. He explained various choices in treatments, from aggressive to minimal maintenance. We’ll decide and let him know next week.

“There’s no wrong answer,” the doctor said. “And you can always change your mind.”

“Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.” — Mother Teresa

“She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Mark 5:26-28

Later that afternoon, I peeked in my mom’s room as she took a nap. She looked more relaxed than she had in years. 

True, the venous ulcer my mom’s ankle has not healed. But I know that Jesus healed my mom’s wounded spirit when she reached out for help. 

We often hear of people being the “hands and feet” of Jesus. Many times this happens as we go about our everyday lives and jobs. “The kindness and love of God our Savior” had indeed “appeared” at the clinic this morning.  And it made all the difference.