rob's reflections

I have been interacting with a Christian patient who recently had a stroke. Because of the stroke, they were unable to swallow, and had to receive all food and fluids through a feeding tube in their nose. 

One day I visited them and they were feeling pretty down. They expressed feeling very thirsty. They said, “what I want more than anything right now is a drink of cold water. If I was able to drink water, I would get a bucket of ice water and pour it on my face. I would let it fall into my mouth and all over my chest.” I had never seen someone fantasize about water like that.

I go and see them most days, and today I went to see them and they looked exponentially better. They were lying in their bed, and their feeding tube was gone. On the table next to them were to-go boxes filled with half eaten food. I said, “wow! You look so much better! And the feeding tube is gone!” 

They said, “I feel so much better! I’m able to eat food and drink water and swallow.” I expressed that I was so happy for them. I asked about the to-go boxes and they said, “once I was allowed to eat, I ordered everything. This is all the food that I couldn’t eat because I felt so full. I forgot what it felt like to feel full. Food is so good isn’t its it?!”

I agreed. We both gave thanks for these little things in life that are so enjoyable and that we take for granted. I was ending our time and they said, “Can I share something with you? The first food that I was allowed to swallow was pureed chicken pot pie. It sounds gross, but when I swallowed it, it tasted so good, and I was so happy that I literally started crying. I was eating pureed chicken pot pie with tears streaming down my face. Now, on Thanksgiving, I’m going to invite all of my friends over, and we’re going to eat pureed chicken pot pie and celebrate how good that God is.”

As they were sharing, tears welled in their eyes. I felt tears welling up in my eyes as I imagined what that first bite of pot pie tasted like. We ended our time together praying and praising God for food, and water, and swallowing, and pot pie.

God has blessed us with so many wonderful things, and we don’t notice how wonderful they are until we no longer have access to them. One of my memory verses this week is Ephesians 5:19-20, “Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

God is love.
-rev-rob