And You Thought You Were in Bad Health!
Several months had passed since I’d last spoken to my friend. He doesn’t have long-distance capability with his phone, and two years ago, he lost his email capabilities. So, I called him, and we conversed for about an hour. The next call was to another friend and like the former, we conversed for a long time. Both men are past four-score years, and in failing health. The second informed me of yet another friend of whose illness I had not heard. He told me she has cancer but is prayerful her recent mastectomy has removed all of it and the follow-up treatments will be minimal.
The first friend also told me about his wife. She recently suffered a massive stroke that has severely limited his mobility on both sides of her body. She can’t see to read and cannot care for herself. Though speech and physical therapy come twice a week to help, her husband takes care of her to the best of his ability. Now his plight is not much better. He has more than two dozen specialists caring for his ills, among which are heart trouble (less than thirty percent of his heart works at all), only a tenth of his stomach remains, his lungs work at less than thirty percent, his eyes have received several surgeries to help him retain his sight, his hips and knees are beyond repair and even if they could be surgically replaced, his body cannot withstand more surgery.
The second friend has had cancer and now suffers from severe fluctuation in his blood pressure. He wears a pacemaker and though extremely limited in mobility, he managed to fall and break his shoulder. He lives alone (his wife passed away a few years ago) and depends on his family to help him a few days a week. His voice was notably weaker than the last time I spoke with him. He expressed much greater concern for his daughter whose involvement in his life is very special!
I should relate that all three of these friends are faithful Christians. The first has a library that rivals many Carnegie libraries. Within his vast collection are hundreds of bible study materials. With the materials in his library, he has painstakingly written hundreds of pages of “word definitions” about the scriptures. He has researched Hebrew, Latin, Greek, Chaldean, and other languages, cited them from the scriptures, and given detailed definitions within the context. The second friend served the Lord as a deacon and later an elder in the Lord’s kingdom. His dedication to truth and righteousness remains as keen and fervent as the strongest of Christians I’ve known. Even that of his daughter has not been daunted by her recent plight. That comes in large part from the way her parents raised her to appreciate God and His word!
Not so strangely, especially knowing these souls, their only request is, “Keep us in your prayers.” They’ve determined to fully obey Revelation 2:10. I’ve been in their homes and can assure you that their well-worn bibles are well within their reach. The first cannot see to read, but that doesn’t stop him from listening to recordings of God’s word being read, or sermons being preached, and his hands on that bible as he digests every word within his mind. The second can read and has done so with such devotion that he can quote the Lord’s word so well that when he hears something askew, he’ll let you know! This is why their comfort, their confidence, and their trust are in the care and keeping of our God (Hebrews 13:5 – 6). They have worked diligently to add to their faith the seven works that Peter, by inspiration, commands us to add to our faith (2 Peter 1: 1 – 11). They, like the apostle Paul, look at life as being Christ and dying as gain (Philippians 1:21) Yet, as they continue to live, they are mindful of their accountability and therefore continue strengthening the brethren as they ask from the brethren strength for themselves.
Oh, how I wish HEALTHY brethren expressed such resolve! Sometimes, it would appear some brethren “enjoy ill health,” for that’s all they talk about and all they express. Further, their various ills, as they express them, are always the “most severe,” or used as the “best example” of what to expect” should others suffer similar frailties.
When we hurt, we hurt! But do we hurt as Christ did? When we are disabled, we are disabled! But as we as disabled as others whose illnesses are truly debilitating? When we think of ones like my friends, just how “bad” is our physical condition?
The first friend of whom I spoke asked something else. He asked, “Would you also please ask God to help our mental health as well? We’re easily depressed.” No surprise! One of the sources of depression is loneliness. Would it surprise you that this same friend told me, “No one has even called to offer their help.” There are brethren in his area; some within minutes of his home. It makes me wonder if they’ve read and studied Hebrews 13:1.
So, the next time you’re feeling poorly, perhaps you’ll think of these three souls and take a moment to thank God that things are as well with us as they are! And further, maybe ask God for enough strength to truly help those much less fortunate!