By Rebecca Ainsworth, Local Preacher, Preston Ribble Circuit and Specialist Nurse
Reading : 1 Peter 1 v. 8 – 9
Notes:
One of the challenges I face working as a nurse, is that what is my day-to-day experience in my job is matched with a difficult time for the patients who are under my care. I work in a hospital, even the day before I meet a patient they may have been going about their normal life, no clue as to what was going to happen the day after. Things can move quickly in my job. Part of my role as a nurse is still the hand holder, seeking to provide reassurance, showing them that I am confident so they can be too. This is important, when we are focussed on the physical, we just want them to agree to the treatment, we will worry about feelings later.
After the initial emergency treatment, things slow down. lots of time for patients to contemplate what is happening to them and start to process what is yet to come. This so often is where the hard work starts, lots of concerns about their health, what their life will be afterwards how will they manage, and patients can stay positive, or risk becoming depressed and withdrawn.
At this point, joy needs to become an act of resistance. A decision that no matter what happens, there is still joy available to us in the world, and our current circumstances will not be what defines us. Peter’s letter has been sent to a church that is marginalised, and maligned by other locals, held with suspicion, Peter is encouraging them to hold onto the Joy found in the knowledge of salvation, which is what I try to help with my patients in hospital, not only caring about their mood but giving better clinical outcomes. Finding Joy is good for you.
Wonder:
So often in life we brush over the good in our lives, and focus on the bad. Today try and name 5 things you encounter that bring you Joy and give thanks to God for this.
Prayer:
Loving God, open our hearts and help us to remember that your Joy is our strength. Help us to wait with expectation as we hold onto that Joy from heaven as the birth of the Christ Child is joy incarnate. Amen.