SPEAKING THE WORD

"A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!" Proverbs 15:23

Hospital rooms can be breeding places for fear and anxiety. Last week, I found myself there with my Mother as she underwent tests for some troubling health issues. She had never been in the hospital before so this was a very frightening experience for her. Add to that the possibilities of what "could be" and you have a recipe for deep distress.

One morning as Mother was being transported to another part of the hospital for a test, God sent His special messenger to uplift and encourage us both. Her name was Keneshia. We had met Keneshia the day before as she once again transported Mother for a procedure. Her smile was bright and her attitude was so cheerful. She lit up the room!

On this particular day, our second day to have the pleasure of Keneshia's company, God used her in a marvelous way. As she was transferring Mother from her hospital bed to the gurney, she smiled and said,

"Ohhhhh what a beautiful day it is today!!" (Yet the sun had hardly poked its way through the clouds ).

Mother replied rather dismally, "Yeah...it's terrible to be stuck inside and be sick."

Keneshia flashed her beautiful smile and looked directly at Mother as she made a gesture with her fingers of a teeny little bit and said "Oh but it's only for a little while. 'Weeping endureth for a night, but JOY cometh in the morning!' "

Oh how my heart sang!! That is one of my favorite verses from Psalms. Mother smiled.

We proceeded a little further down the hall. Mother lamented "I hope I don't get sick today". She had gotten terribly nauseated from the transport the day before.

Keneshia again smiled her sweet smile and said "That was yesterday. You are not going to be sick today."

Mother was not convinced. She said "Well, I was really sick yesterday."

Keneshia would have none of that. She again looked Mother squarely in the eye and said,

"But...THIS is the day the Lord has made, and we are going to rejoice and be glad in it and you are NOT going to be sick!!"

She had won Mother over. Mother teared up as she heard the Word spoken by this sweet angel of mercy. As we proceeded to the elevator and down the hall, Keneshia talked of how she would like to go on a picnic because it was such a beautiful day. She had been wanting to go on a picnic for some time. "But" she said with a positive note in her voice "to everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under Heaven and this is just not my season to do that". It was obvious she was content in the Father's control and she was not going to complain if things did not go her way.

By this time, I was almost in tears at the goodness of God. I knew in my heart that SO many people were praying for us and I also knew that God had personally sent Keneshia to speak HIS Word over us that day...to reassure us, to comfort us, and to encourage us. It was no accident or coincidence. She was there by divine appointment!

He sent us many angels in our stay. I cannot tell you how many people....total strangers...said to us "Have a blessed day" or "God bless you, Darling!" The kindness of the hospital staff was astounding, each one doing their normal, everyday job but with a kindness and compassion the likes of which I've never seen in a hospital before. God's hand was all over us and we were so grateful!

It reminded me once again that we can be His "people angels" no matter where we are. We can lavish grace, we can speak the Word over someone, we can be His hands with a gentle touch. Who does He want you to minister to today?