Normally by this time I have already posted; however, this not a normal day. Last night we got a phone call from a friend telling us my father-in law was ill.
We had already settled in for bed so we quickly re-grouped and went to his house. We found him in alot of pain and not looking good. He showed us his elbow which was twice the normal size, very red and hot to the touch.
Being that he "listens" to me better, I told him we were taking him to the emergency room. Of course, he argued stating that he was fine and he would make it although his face stated something different. He was torn because he did not want to go yet the concern loomed in his face. I called a friend who is a nurse and whom he greatly trusts. I knew that her opinion would carry weight. It didn't take long before we were in the car and headed to the ER.
The doctor examined him and commented on the status of the infection. In 24 hours, the infection had travelled from his elbow to his wrist and towards his shoulder. My father-in-law said the spider was a brown recluse. Did I mention he is 97 years old?
It began as a tiny sting when he put his robe on and quickly spread to this extreme. Sin is that way. It starts as something simple and small and before we know it, it has infected our entire being. If we do not confess our sin and return to Christ, it can destroy us.
Had my father-in-law known that the spider was in his robe sleeve, I doubt he would have put it on. He would have taken precautions to avoid it. We may not know what temptation lurks around the corner to draw us in, however, there are times we know the danger and we allow ourselves to "go there" anyway.
When we do that, we find ourselves like my father-in-law did...in need of rescuing. Just like there is only one means of dealing with the infection, there is only one means of dealing with sin and that is repentance through the Christ.
Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases....Psalms 103:1-3
[After two ER trips and a follow up, my father-in-law is sore but resting at home.]
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