At my place of work we have different doctors doing surgery every day.  The doctors are of, shall we say, varying personalities.  Some are pleasant, some are not, and some are patient, while others are … not.  One doctor in particular seems always angry.  Always … nasty.  His brow is always furrowed, he is always in a hurry, and nothing is ever right.  I actually laugh to myself when I see him in his irritated huffs because it seems it is taking so darn much energy for him to be so cross all the time.

The other day, said doctor was done with surgery for the day and our head nurse called to him as he was briskly walking down the hall and away from where we were.  He had rounded the corner and she thought he was gone.  I hurried after him to stop him so that the nurse could speak to him, and I found him standing in place around the corner with a big relaxed smile on his face.  He had heard the nurse call to him and, pretending that he had gotten away from her, had actually stopped around the corner to catch her off guard.  I barely recognized him.  He was transformed by his smile.  He was handsome.  He looked friendly.  He looked like a nice guy.  Wow.

And then ….

Many of you know about Amanda and how she must sleep with her AVAP machine (like a bi-pap) to stay in good respiratory health.  She has been taking her AVAP mask off at night, which is causing her to have poor oxygen exchange and lung function.  During the days she has been pale, with decreased energy, lips that are tinging blue, and basically an obvious decrease in health.  (Hence the reason we are going to move her to a group home ASAP with 24-hour care so they can help her keep her mask on at night.) Last night I spent the night at her apartment and slept on the couch.  I set my phone alarm for every hour on the hour so I would wake up and check on her.  I put her to bed at 10:30pm.  I checked on her at 11pm.  At midnight.  At 1 … at 2 … at 3am.  She slept soundly and the mask was in place.  At 4am she had it off and I promptly snapped it back on her face.  She said to me, “I was just gonna lay her a while …. You better hope (after putting this mask back on me) that I fall back asleep or I will be mad at you.”  It stayed on another hour and at 5am we were both up for the day.  I had to be to work at 6am.  She had a wonderful day!  Even her staff person noticed that she was more awake and energetic than she had been for a long time.  Transformed.

It’s amazing how a smile, or some positive behavior (like wearing your mask at night Amanda!) can transform a person into someone better.  A sour attitude, poor health habits, constantly emphasizing the negative, or always tearing things apart (literally or figuratively) can make a person miserable, sad, and not-so-fun to be around.

If life has gotten you down lately, I hope you can try to look up … literally … and find the peace, strength, and joy that Christ can provide.  Try smiling.  Turn your frown upside-down! See the glass as half full.  Try changing your bad habits to healthier habits. Count your blessings and share some happy vibes.  Stop being the ‘downer’ negative person. Transform yourself – and let God help!

I don’t know.

Personally, I just find it easier to find contentment when I can – and not to wallow in the muck of life.

Just Laurel

Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

2 Corinthians 3:18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.