First Christian Church, Wauchula, FL

I heard it for the first time Monday night, “Honey, I’ve got a pain in side.”  What is it sweetie I said, do you think you pulled a muscle, did you move in a strange way and ‘tweak’ your back?  Do you want me to get you some Advil?”  As I tended to my wife and her very sore back it was my goal to make it all better.  Tuesday morning came and the pain in her back was still there and by Tuesday evening it had really become much worse.  Wednesday morning came, Molly and I walked into Java Café for breakfast and to see Julie, as we do every morning, and were greeted by Julie leaned over the counter in total agony.

After getting both Molly and Megan off to school I was able to get Julie in to see a wonderful member of our church who is a physical therapist and was able to save my shoulder from massive pain to see if she could provide the same healing touch for Julie.  After a few short minutes and some very good questions she explains to Julie that she has what is known as a bulging disc and with about three weeks of treatments she should be able to get rid of that pain.  And so begins the process of pain removal.

As Julie began her first treatment this morning I couldn’t help but think back to the many years I struggled with kidney stones.  It is so easy to go back to those moments that I found myself laying down in the bottom of the shower in so much pain, praying to God that He would take it from me, that He would heal me.  I thought about all of those days that I felt totally unable to get up at all because the pain was so bad I couldn’t stand up straight.  As all of these memories flashed through my mind the desire to help became stronger and stronger.  Then I realized all I could really do to help is to be there for her.  I can’t take the pain away; I can’t make her disc “un-bulge”.  All I can do is show her love by caring for her during this time of pain.  So…I decided that is what I’ll do, love her.

PAIN is the real deal. 

Pain is something that all of us will deal with in our lives.  Pain comes in all kinds of forms.  It could be pain from an injury, pain from a car accident, pain from a broken relationship, pain from un-kind words, and pain from losing someone close to you.  There is not one person on this planet exempt from pain.  However, I’ve found one thing that really seems to make a difference when you are experiencing pain.  It doesn’t always remove the pain completely but it does make the pain more bearable.

That one thing is LOVE. 

Julie couldn’t take the pain I was experiencing away during each of my kidney stone attacks.  I am unable to take the pain away that she is having while dealing with her back problems.  But, I remember that each and every time I was hurting Julie would step in with a soft hand rubbing against my cheek, or her long nails scratching my back.  She would bring a drink of water or my daily dose of pain meds.  Sometimes all she would do was sit there next to me while I moaned in agony.  What I remember most about those times was that Julie was there.  There was no place else she wanted to be.  She was right beside me walking through it with me.  She loved me that much.  I am determined to show that same type of love to her as she walks through her back pain.  I want to be the one that brings her a drink.  I want to be the one that ties her shoes for her because she isn’t allowed to bend over and tie them herself.   I want to be the one that gives her anything she needs exactly when she needs it.  I love her that much.

LOVE is an action.

I challenge you to think about someone you know, someone around you who is experiencing pain.  It doesn’t have to be physical pain, just pain; you know what I’m saying; good ‘old fashioned’ hurt.  When you think of who that person is, reach out to them.  Don’t sit back and wait for someone else to love them while they are hurting.  You do it.  Reach out to them and show them love.

I’ve been cured of my kidney stone problems and no longer suffer from them and I do believe that after Julie’s treatments she will be pain free in her back as well.  I don’t know how long it will take but I know that no matter how long it takes I will be there for her as she goes through it, loving her in whatever ways she needs my love.

I am not perfect.  I will not do everything right, but I do hope that if I get nothing else in life right I get LOVE right.  I hope you will too.