Girlfriends in God - June 20, 2011
June 20, 2011
Emergency! Emergency!
Today’s Truth
“I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer” (Psalm 17:6 NIV).
Friend To Friend
My husband, Steve, graduated from dental school in 1981. In the beginning I was his only employee: his dental hygienist, dental assistant, receptionist, and insurance clerk. On the days that I was not helping him, I worked for another dentist in town. I was so exhausted most of the time that our joke became, "Sharon works six days a week and cries on the seventh."
One thing that amazed me when we started his practice was all the emergency phone calls that Steve received on nights and weekends. I usually answered the phone, and asked the caller several questions, one of which was, "Mrs. Jones, how long have you been having this problem?" Invariably the patient would say, "three days," "two weeks," "a month." I always thought, So why did you wait until Saturday to call? Of course, being the sweet person that I am, I never said that.
One night the phone rang at about 2:00 a.m. I groggily picked up the phone and managed a weak, "Hello."
"Hello," said the caller. "My son is having a terrible toothache. Is the doctor in?”
Where did she think he would be other than "in" at 2:00 in the morning? (OK, I’m being grumpy again.) "Yes ma'am, he is. How long has this tooth been bothering your son?"
"Oh, I'd say for about two weeks," she answered.
So why did you wait until now to call...thought, not said, of course. Something didn’t feel right about the call. Then I asked, "Ma'am, and how old is your son?"
She answered, "27. My son is 27-years-old."
I was so shocked that I quickly sat up in the bed, accidentally jerking the phone cord out of the wall and disconnecting the caller. She did not call back. I had envisioned a distraught mother with a crying five-year-old. But twenty-seven!
I laid back down complaining and grumbling. "Lord, why is it that people won't go to the doctor regularly but only want help on demand when they have an emergency?"
When I got quiet enough to listen, I heard Him say…"Now you know how I feel."
Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, forgive me for only talking to you when I have a problem that needs fixing or a situation that needs solving. How it must hurt You when Your children come to You always asking for something, rather than simply telling You how much we love You. Today, I just want You to know how much I love you! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
How do you feel when your children only come to you when they want something?
When was the last time you went to God with an “emergency” prayer?
When was the last time you went to God with an “I love you” prayer?
Write out a prayer to God, simply telling Him how much you love Him.
Here’s a challenge. Log onto my Facebook page and tell me 3 reasons you love God today. www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes.
More From The Girlfriends
Don’t you love reading stories of God’s fingerprints on the pages of everyday life! Sharon’s devotion book, Extraordinary Moments with God, is full of them! Some stories will make you laugh. Some stories will make you cry. Each story will point you to God and strengthen your relationship with Him. To learn more, visit www.sharonjaynes.com.
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Girlfriends in God
Matthews, NC 28106
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