When taking care of an ill family member, there are adjustments made. The hospitals for their care include adjustments, too. I don’t know the date of the original post card used for the above graphic. I do know that Texas Health’s Harris Hospital does not resemble that photo. Definitely not the 1930’s as it began, nor the 461-bed described above, Harris is now a multi-block complex, 726-bed.
My Beloved Husband is occupying one of those beds as I write, and I know he is getting very good care. Undoubtedly better than we can provide at home, though we’ve made adjustments here, too.
For the ill, we place needed items nearby, knowing that things will return to ‘normal’ in a short while. For the long-term invalid, much more adjustments are made, for things may not return to ‘normal.’
Why don’t we make some adjustments for Christians at different points on the path? We know we’re not to be walking in the same group all along the way. We may stray off a bit, or reach out to help someone who has. Why would we expect to be in lockstep from profession of faith to the pearly gates? The problem comes when those adjustments become the ‘normal.’
It might help to think of the ‘Be Attitudes’ as steps along that way. Get to know them, recognize them in ourselves as well as others – and share those steps with others.
Matthew 5:2-11 KJV
(2) And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
(3) Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
(4) Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
(5) Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
(6) Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
(7) Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
(8) Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
(9) Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
(10) Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
(11) Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Ooops, did you want to miss out on that last one? The others sound pretty good, but those last two just don’t fit into your picture of Christianity? Did you forget that just months after this He was persecuted and reviled? That He died?
Yep. As Christians, we will find ourselves acquainted with those two verses. When we arrive there, we’d better be well schooled in the first ones! Then, we can make the adjustment.
My prayers are with your husband and you. May God provide comfort and minimal suffering.
ReplyDeleteMy heart is also heavy now with a good friend (a missionary for over 60 years) who is suffering through his final days--but what a reception he will have when he reaches his destination. What a blessing to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
In Him,
Blogger Bob
Our Sunday School teacher just told us last week what the word beatitudes means: The term Beatitude comes from the Latin adjective beatus which means happy, fortunate, or blissful. So when we are in any of these situations, we are very blessed indeed.
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