Last night I
had a hard time sleeping, and when I woke up I wasn’t particularly looking forward
to driving my grandparents to downtown St. Louis and spending the afternoon at
a hospital for their doctors appointments, but as God often works, He began to
show me little pieces of Himself even when I wasn’t looking for it.
As the day
with my grandpa, who has a hard time walking and my grandma who can’t see very
well anymore (the reason they needed a ride to their doctor) unfolded, I began to see in multiple facets, the way God
provides.
My grandma,
though unable to read much of anything because of her vision, is a pretty spry
and agile lady. She helped my grandpa
from the car into a wheelchair for a trek through Barnes-Jewish Hospital. After we walked across the window covered
bridge over the city, we boarded the elevator and hopped off at the 13th
floor (which apparently does exist in some buildings).
Because of
their many visits to this location, my grandparents smoothly maneuvered their
way through the large St. Louis hospital, smiling and being helpful to others
along the way. We finally arrive at the
waiting room. My grandparents choose to
be seen together because my grandma likes to be able to hear what the doctors
say about her husband.
When the
nurse calls out for Mr. and Mrs. Todd, my grandma gets up and walks toward her,
and my grandpa politely asks her to wheel him into the back. She tells him that he must get up and walk on
his own. He says he doesn’t want to, and
isn’t sure why she can’t do it for him.
With a loving smile, she politely responded, “You know why,” and helps
him from the chair so that he can walk from the waiting room to the back. Meanwhile the whole waiting room is looking
and listening to the exchange. Though
firm, but not rude, my grandma asked of my grandfather only that of which she
knew he was capable.
Later in the
afternoon as her and I were doing some shopping, she told me that she felt bad
because the people in the waiting room didn’t know her true intentions. She said that she wasn’t being mean, but she
loved my grandpa and knew what was best for him. He doesn’t like to walk much because after
two knee replacement surgeries and other bouts with his health, the pain and
wear of his strength cause him weariness even while walking short distances. She told me that though he doesn’t like to,
he needs to walk because it keeps him mobile.
He knows that’s why she does it, and subsequently why he doesn’t protest
much. The people in the waiting room
didn’t know why she was making a seemingly helpless person, get up and walk, she
continued to explain, but after 55+ years together, she recognized that her
discernment trumped their limited knowledge.
The whole
exchange radiated true love to me. Someone
who wants the best for you even if it stings, physically or emotionally, is a
true comrade. In the same way my
grandmother urged my grandfather, so our heavenly Father urges us to be our
best. Though he questioned why she was
making him get up and walk, my grandpa ultimately knew the intentions were that of his loving
wife who only wants his optimal heath.
We question
why God makes us get uncomfortable or experience pain, but we must realize
that it is those very experiences that make us into the men and women God wants
us to be. The people in our life don’t always
understand our pain or why certain things happen. They have only a narrow lens. They can only see what happens in the waiting
room, but God can see the whole
picture. He isn’t limited to our waiting
room experience. His love for us and His
wisdom, though we sometimes question it, are ultimately the best option; which
is why if we are wise, we won’t put up much of a fight.
God blesses
my grandparents’ marriage even still: one who can barely climb stairs anymore,
but can still see and hear pretty well, is matched with a physically able woman
who is losing her sight. Between the two
of them and their love and support, they portray an accurate picture of Christ’s
love: He gives us what we need, but not
always as we would have chosen for ourselves.
Last night I
prayed that God would reveal a bit of Himself to me throughout my daily life. I
didn’t realize what my next day had in store for me; and I’m thankful that the
Lord allowed me, if even for a moment, to see past the waiting room.
Psalm 42:3-5
3 My
tears have
been my food
day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
4 These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go to the house of God
under the protection of the Mighty One
with shouts of joy and praise
among the festive throng.
day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
4 These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go to the house of God
under the protection of the Mighty One
with shouts of joy and praise
among the festive throng.
5 Why, my soul, are you
downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
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