I’m sitting here in the waiting room of a hospital, waiting for my wife to get out of surgery. It’s not life threatening or anything but I prayed the rosary and all sorts of other prayers anyway. So as I was all prayed out after two hours I was kinda’ all prayed out. I didn’t bother praying for her galbladder as I’m pretty sure it’s already out by now.
So I started looking around. Waiting rooms are amazing places. I was sitting here when a woman (about 58-60 years old?) received news that her husband’s surgery was unsuccesful and that he’d be going back into surgery later this afternoon. The doctor had a thick accent and he kept talking about “dyeing” certain areas to see what was wrong but she kept misunderstanding him. I was like “dude, pick a different word.”
Every time he said it, her eyes went wide and her back stiffened. But the doctor just kept rambling on. I’m sure he’s doing his best and he’s probably tired as well but just open your eyes for a moment. She finally learned that her husband was going to have a catheter-like thing for at least a few weeks. This upset her greatly. She cried about how active he was and how negative he was and how this was going to push him over the edge. She talked about how they had a vacation planned.
The this woman tries to call her kids after the doctor leaves and nobody picked up the phone and then she knocked her soda off the counter all over the floor. I honestly thought she was going to lose it…but she didn’t. She whispered, “God give me strength” and then she went and found paper towels. I came over to help her clean up when the nurse came over and said she could see him.
She looked down at the mess and then at me. I told her I didn’t mind. She should go. And she was off. So I cleaned up the soda. And…then as I was cleaning up I lost my seat so I ambled over to this computer here and started telling you guys about me sitting in the waiting room.
I think I’ll go back to praying.
June 14, 2012 at 6:27 pm
How sad if you weren't there. Thank you for being there and being Jesus to her at that moment. I'll pray for you both.
June 14, 2012 at 6:39 pm
Good show! It is so important to be there for each other…your simple act of compassion will be far-reaching
June 14, 2012 at 6:42 pm
You've been praying the whole time:). Bless you. And prayers for your wife and family offered.
June 14, 2012 at 6:52 pm
Prayers for all who are sitting in a waiting room for their loved ones. Praying for Drs. also.
Compassion is so important in our world today.
June 14, 2012 at 7:14 pm
God bless you, your wife, the woman and her husband.
Hail Mary for you.
June 14, 2012 at 7:28 pm
Praying for you!
June 14, 2012 at 8:16 pm
I like this post.
June 14, 2012 at 9:10 pm
I suppose we're all in a waiting room until our own names are called.
We could do so much worse than follow your example of prayer and
acts of compassion, Mr. Archbold.
June 14, 2012 at 9:43 pm
You done good, Mr. Archbold. I've been in too many of those waiting rooms for too many hours. So many people sick and hurting and scared out of their wits. Prayers for you and your spouse and for the lady and her spouse.
June 14, 2012 at 9:57 pm
Please at least let us know that things went well. Praying. Thanks for the example of corporal acts of mercy.
June 15, 2012 at 12:01 am
One Hail Mary in Latin for you and yours.
June 15, 2012 at 12:53 am
Joining you in prayer.
June 15, 2012 at 8:07 am
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June 15, 2012 at 3:14 pm
Amen, amen.
– Mack
June 16, 2012 at 6:48 pm
prayers.
June 19, 2012 at 4:58 pm
It's in these little seemingly insignificant moments that great miracles happen… you were there for a reason! Many blessings, and thank you for comforting that lady by cleaning up the spill… that probably touched more than words could have…
shalimamma at lifevictorious.com