October 2017

A Touching Story from a Hospital Room

Bro Martin shares,

As I approached the private hospital room, I noticed the door was closed and the placard was posted with instructions to wear the protective gown and gloves. A nurse was standing nearby, so I asked if now was a good time to visit the patient. She replied hesitantly, “Well, you can if you really want to. But I don’t know how she’ll respond to you, because she’s been very irritated with all of the staff.”

I knocked, opened the door, then stepped into the room. The woman, Maria* , was sitting on the side of her bed with her head down, and her hair hanging over her face. She spoke gruffly, “Hello. What do you want?” I told her that I was a Chaplain. She said, “I’m really mad at God and everybody. All my family has cut off all communication with me. My sisters have changed their phone numbers so I can’t call them. I guess I’ll just go ahead and die from this alcohol poisoning. And I’m mad at God because my son is in jail, and my daughter was born retarded.”

I expressed sympathy as gently as I could. Then I asked her if I could pray with her. She replied, “It won’t do any good. I’ve tried all that God stuff before, and it doesn’t work!” I applied the truth of Proverbs, “A soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger.” She didn’t need a harsh sermon right now. She needed someone to care. Again I asked her if I could pray. This time, she reluctantly agreed.

Not very long after I began to pray, I heard her beginning to pray. She prayed, “Lord, I know I should not have been saying the things I’ve been saying about You. I should not have these feelings. Please, Lord, forgive me of all my sins, and come into my heart right now!” She prayed for a while longer. Then she said to me, “My heart feels so much lighter now!” She raised her head, brushed her hair back out of her face, smiled, and then chuckled a little. It seemed she was surprised at herself. She said, “I can’t remember the last time that I laughed. But now it is so easy.”

I encouraged her to read the book of Philippians to help keep her thoughts upon good things. Then I challenged her to begin to have positive and pleasant words for those who came into her room. She smiled, and agreed to do so. I pray that the nurses will notice the difference, and give God the glory He deserves.

*Name changed to protect privacy