Ouchie

We have a lot of health care providers in our family, so during family gatherings, we have the bases covered when it comes to knowing how to handle minor accidents or injuries on the farm. Invariably, one of the grandchildren will come sobbing with an ouchie incurred while playing. It is usually quite dramatic as they seek out their Mother for comfort. More times than not I hear from Mom or Dad, “you’re fine, it’s not even bleeding!” Not the words the traumatized child wants to hear as you would expect. That is when it is “Band-Aid” time.

Healing Time

I enjoy the process of taking the sniffling injured to the Band-Aid station. Just the very motion of reaching in the cabinet for the box has an immediate calming effect. Placing a Band-Aid on the spot that is hurting miraculously changes the mood from hurting to healed. Especially if the Band-Aid is colorful or has spider man on it. Sometimes I think I am the same way. When I have an ouchie I seek out a “Band-Aid” to comfort my hurt and pain, looking to make that transition from hurting to healed. However, I know where to find what I am looking for with my faith and belief in God and I take my requests to Him in prayer. But just like the children, after the hurt has been healed or the comfort that I asked for has been received, I tend to continue on with life until the next time. Forgetting to be thankful for what God has already done for me. The same thing happened in the Bible as Luke tells us a story of the ten lepers in chapter 17 verses 11-19 where the ten lepers stood at a distance and asked for healing.

Jesus is Our Healer

Jesus gives them all a “Band-Aid” and they were healed. “One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him – and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleaned? Where are the other nine?  Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then He said to him, “Rise up and go, your faith has made you well.”  How easy it becomes after God listens to our needs, answers our prayers, heals our hurts. Then we run off like the children to play again and not look back. Are we just too busy? It doesn’t mean that we are not thankful, we just tend to not take a moment and give thanks for the small “God given Band-Aids.” Maybe we should stop at the Band-Aid station in the closet, open up one of those colorful healing aids; put it on the back of our hand and use it as a reminder to always give thanks for all the healing blessings that have been given to us, great and small. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comforts, who comforts us in all of our troubles.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4a Dear Lord, thank you for all the times you have answered my prayers with your gracious healing, Amen.