What if.....?

A belated update on the events of the last 10 days or so .....

Although supposed to go in for an overnight stay last Tuesday, there were no beds... so Sue went in on Wednesday (4th) and came out on Thursday (5th). All went well; she was able to go straight to the ward and straight to bed, all by 10 am, instead of getting there late morning and having to wait until nearly lunch-time before the bed was actually free. Then the treatment went ok too - apart from the night-nurses forgot to swap the finished chemo bag for the 6-hour post-chemo saline solution "flush-through", so she was about 1.5 hours later leaving than she might have been...But, in the overall scheme of things, that hardly constitutes a problem!

Then yesterday (prompt post for a change!) she went to the outpatients clinic, which was VERY busy (poor nursing staff rushed off their feet during a VERY long day). The initial appointment was 11:30; it was probably 12:30 before she got called for a blood test, and after seeing the doctor we eventually got away about 2:30pm. Although we took a pager home with us, it didn't go off during the afternoon; so when I got back from work we went back down to the hospital about 6 pm......and sat and waited until around 8:30 before being called in to have the chemo sack replaced. There were still people waiting when we left 15 mins later!

In herself, Sue was quite good the weekend before last; quite buoyant, quite happy, quite "with-it", although still having some pain for (usually) a brief period at some point most days. The last intravenous session (as above) has however taken its toll (not unexpectedly); she has been much quieter, more withdrawn, much more "weak and wobbly" and therefore needing more assistance. Even during the long waits yesterday she could not be bothered to read, or even look at a magazine; so she was just sitting there......... (although we did talk from time to time!)However, there seems to be a slight improvement this evening; she says she feels more relaxed.

But the questions do arise :-
* What if we had to travel for 2 hours to even get to the hospital (as some yesterday did), instead of just 10 minutes? Isn't proximity a blessing, for which we can give thanks?
* What if we had to pay for all the treatment, and the professional fees? Isn't the provision under the good old NHS a blessing, for which we can give thanks?
* What if there were no hospitals, and no chemo drugs, and no medical staff? Anywhere, let alone within easy access? Isn't the provision - indeed, the very existence - of such facilities a blessing, for which we can give thanks? "Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" (Psalm 107:8)
* What if we (and everybody else in the waiting room) were angry and bitter at all the waiting? Imagine the atmosphere! Isn't the patience of patients a blessing to be acknowledged, as a blessing orchestrated by God Who restrains the evil in many hearts.
* What if our employers were not so flexible and understanding as they have proved themselves to be? Another wonderful provision, to be acknowledged as from the Lord who controls all things (but we need to thank them too!)
* What if we had no faith? and saw nothing of the guiding and caring and protecting hand of our Sovereign Heavenly Father in the whole situation? It is a very great blessing to be able - in true faith, not blind faith - to trust the promises of God: "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." (I Peter 5:7) "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." (Isaiah 41:10)
*More to the point, how do those who have no faith manage? It is good to be able to say to those who say " I don't know how you keep going" "It's all a metter of grace and prayer - grace from the Lord and the prayers of His people". But it would be better to have opportunity to go beyond that - to try and explain about the love of God as a reality, and the assurance of sins forgiven and peace with God a precious certainty, because of Calvary - and to talk about the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord available to all "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Acts 2:21)
* What if someone who reads this is actually prompted to think of their own standing before the eternal Holy God, and their own eternal destiny?