Shift Change

Wed, 06 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0600

My son, Kenny, was born seven weeks early. He stayed in the NICU for eight weeks. It was a long time for a new mama to leave her little baby. I would drive the forty minutes to the hospital every day and sit with him. I would hold him, feed him, change his diaper, chat with the nurses and other parents, and then leave him to go home at the nurses' shift change. The leaving him there was very difficult. These were dark days that seemed to stretch on forever. We had no idea when he would come home.

One of those days before I went to the hospital, I was on the phone with my friend, Margaret. I was telling her that I couldn't make it. I just couldn't do it again -- go to the hospital, sit awhile and then leave at the nurses' shift change.

I began to cry at the overwhelming task in front of me. That's when Margaret told me I didn't have to see myself to the end of the NICU day. She asked if I could make it through the next hour?

One hour? Sure, I could make it just one hour. With all the driving that would only be about fifteen minutes! She suggested I try making it two hours -- sure, I could do two hours! Shoot, I could make it to the shift change if I just took it one hour at a time! I was so happy to just go for four hours that I felt wonderful!

I jumped in the car and went to care for my preemie. When the shift change rolled around, I was amazed it had come so quickly! I had made it! Since I had done it that day, I knew I could do it again!

Now, whenever tough situations come up, I try not to see it all the way to the end. I try to see only a little ways ahead.

Can I forgive that person for the next hour?

Can I put that sin away for today?

Can I make it until supper without yelling at my children?

Can I pray for five minutes?

What about it? Can you make it just one hour! I bet, with His help, you can even make it till the "shift change"!

No Jobs in Heaven?

Wed, 09 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0500

So what will heaven be like? Most of what we have are descriptions making it sound glorious ... but the descriptions are clearly overly-simplistic. We can't get our finite, mortal brains wrapped around God's infinite and immortal plans for us. It's like plugging in a 110 volt appliance in a 220 plug -- it can't take it. So with a little lighthearted glee, let this little story entice you to dream of what our home with God will be like.

And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever (Revelation 22:5 NLT).

Not long ago one of my friends told me what her job in heaven was going to be.

A job in heaven, I thought! We have to work in heaven?! For years now I've been looking forward to heaven and all its perfection. I'm not sure that perfection should involve a job.

Singing praises doesn't sound like a job.

Flying on new angel wings doesn't sound like a job.

Walking with God in the Garden doesn't sound at all like a job!

Years ago I gave up on the "mansion" idea -- too much to clean. I've long looked forward to my hut on the Heavenly Beach. It's going to have a hammock, but we won't need any sun block. The light will be the Son and the sand will permanently be outside.

But, how am I going to have a job on the Beach that's not really a job?

I've decided. I'll be the gal with the beach chairs and umbrellas. There will be swimsuits -- remember, no lust or sin in heaven -- all of them in the perfect size (for all our perfect bodies) and lots of water bottles filled with water from the River of Life. I'll make sure everyone is happy -- that will be the easiest job of all! Feel free to join me there -- I look forward to meeting all of you and passing you your own yellow polka dot swimsuit!

Oh, yeah, my friend. She says she is going to breast feed all the heavenly babies. She misses it now that her girls are grown!

Denise is part of The Coffee Group.

Articles by Denise Waldrop at Heartlight

Shift Change

No Jobs in Heaven?