Pain Management

As part of my medical records career, I enter data into an electronic chart with many tabs and subtabs for tests, consults and a multitude of other necessities like HIPPA releases of information. One of the frequently used tabs is called "Pain Management." All kinds of chronic body aches and pain medications are mentioned.
 It seems that in today's world, we believe that we are entitled to live without pain for as long as we live. No physical pain, emotional pain and certainly no spiritual pain should be in store for anyone and most certainly not a Christian.
I recall my own horror when I heard someone say a few years ago that pain is a good thing. He mentioned the 'Joy of Pain' book about Lepers in India who have lost limbs or burned their toes/fingers due to lack of feeling pain. In their situation, pain would save them...
Last year at school, I often mused over the class by Val about learning more through pain then through the joys of life. I couldn't believe it was true but as I reflected over my own life, I realized that it was indeed completely accurate. I don't know why I would have the nerve to question someone who has walked through more pain then I can imagine with losing a spouse and a child and who knows what other pain. I'm sure somedays teachers just want to "tell" their students!:)
Over the past year, I've felt the pain of closed doors and watched friends and family walk through different trials and struggles. More then once, I've wanted to hug their pain away. To totally obliterate it. Erase it from their life and even more to delete it from their hearts.
But for a butterfly to gain it's wings, it must go through a dormant stage. Listen to mothers talk and you know no birth is easy. Look at the cross... Anything that is important, comes with pain.
The lyrics of a song have spoken to me about embracing the pain and walking through it to greater redemption of my heart... Here goes the chorus:

Life is hard and pain is real
But the strongest hearts are not made of steel
They're made of tenderness and trust.
Sometimes life has it's way with us
And we find it's the heartaches, struggles and scars
That makes the strongest hearts.

So if pain is one of the main chiselers in the box, then why not be willing to joyfully endure to the end for a delightful new product within our heart that amazes us?
What if pain is what keeps us dependant on God? What if pain ultimately is a reminder that this life won't ever completely satisfy us and keeps us longing for something better that we'll only find in Heaven? What if pain is really what is going to keep us, sorta like the lepers, away from the fire of hell? What if pain is really the only way to save us from ourselves and our depraved habits?
We've heard time and again that God doesn't give us more then we can handle and that what He does is for our good, so why not ask God to be our "pain manager?" They always say,"He specializes in taking good care of His children." And I've rolled my eyes on that one as many times as you have... Even when it doesn't feel good, He has our greater good in mind.

Sometimes it's like another song's chorus goes...

Cause what if Your blessings come through rain drops?
What if your healing comes through tears?
And what if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near?
And what if the trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?

So all my dear friends who are facing hard times and tough mountains, don't stop believing that God really does care and He is in control. God loves you more then you'll ever know. Someday, as unrealistic as it seems now, you will fly again. I'll believe it until you can believe it for yourself.

Back to those pain management reports at work, sometimes the results aren't desirable. But God's ways are different. Promise.

For the Praise of Good Men

　 Over the past few weeks, I’ve found myself listening to various women discussing the “idiots and any cuss word you want to imagine” in their lives. They spew all their grievances and then turn to Face book or better yet, the local sheriff’s online catalog of men to show a picture of the “criminal” they were married to or dated. They have issues trusting their current "significant other" but what can they expect if they have also had several relationships and no marital commitments?!
Another thing I’ve noticed recently is the minivans driving around with a bumper sticker that reads, “I have one of the few good men.” Come on, you can’t even mention a good man without making reference to the bad ones.
These conversations leave me frustrated with 3 choices:
a: turn to the typical single lady cynicism
b: decide to focus on the good men in my life and give them some recognition.
c: tell the women that Mennonite men are generally not jail birds and come to church to meet them-- not recommended! J
There are many of these men out there who look out for the women in their lives, support their family, spend time with their children, put love and energy into their marriage relationship, their ministry and their church. They aren’t necessarily the “Head turners” or Charmers but they are faithful in doing what God has called them to.
They pray, they lead, they care, they live… and they deserve to be thanked…and to be recognized, admired, recommended, complimented, prayed for, followed, encouraged, blessed, and surrounded by cheerleaders.
They paint when they would rather be taking a nap… they change the diaper when they would rather be out golfing… they give up their personal desires for the good of those following them… they pursue missions instead of careers… their lives speak of dedication, of fighting for others, of passion for Christ, of God’s wild heart…
I’d like to suggest that circumstances are the only difference between an “idiot” and a good man. Circumstances like a respectful woman standing behind him, a mother who was kind to him, a sister who encouraged him… and most of all, a transformation created by an Awesome God that he continues to walk with.
For all I know, the random men who hold the door at the bank might be the “idiots” they talk about. I wonder what would happen if they would start being more kind and supportive…more respectful…more thankful?
If you have a good man in your life, recognize him without bringing up the bad guys. Appreciate that he is in your life. Take care of him and he will probably take care of you. J And if you ever get done with that assignment, go tell all the other women out there how to be respectful.
If you have an "idiot"... look beyond his actions and see if there isn't something inside him that could be motivated for better causes. Best of all, get to know God for yourself and let Him transform you first.