"Can't she just do it for me?"

Last night we took our oldest daughter, Macayla, to the emergency room. For some reason, our girls have been sick a lot this year and seem to just get over whatever they have, only to turn around again and catch something else. She had come home from school complaining of a stomach ache and was very hot to the touch, so I took her temp. At that time it was 103.6 but spiked to 104.2 later that evening (even with ibuprofen!). Needless to say, the high temperature concerned us, so we were out the door within minutes. So the 4 of us loaded up and headed off to the hospital. My friend and neighbor, Nicki, came a little later and took Rachel home with her.

But before Rachel left, the 4 of us were sitting in the room waiting on the doctor to come in and take a look at Macayla. After checking her out, the dr. mentioned that we needed to check for strep throat and go ahead and draw some blood. I immediately looked at Macayla because I knew what reaction she would have. She instantly had a look of fear and concern on her extremely flushed face. She had already been through this same thing last fall, so the idea of drawing more blood didn't thrill her too much. The dr. told us that the guy would be in shortly. I moved over by Macayla to console her and let her know "it will all be okay and we need to do this so we know what is going on with you". Do you think that helped? No way! Macayla said two things at that point....1) "Can't we just leave right now?" and 2) "Since sissy and I look a lot alike, can she just do it for me?"

I know what you are thinking....you're thinking how rude and unloving on Macayla's part to want her sister to go through all that pain for her! I did tell her that she wouldn't really want Rachel going through that, but hey, if I would've had a temperature that high, I just might have thought the same thing! After all, if you've ever had kids, then you know that "labor" isn't exactly a picnic. It would be great if "someone else could do it for me", knowing full well that no one else can and I have to go through that pain myself if I want to see my little miracle bundle. Her dad explained that if Rachel would do it for her, then it would be her blood and the doctors wouldn't know what was going on with Macayla. Do you think that helped? Negative!

Matt held Macayla the whole time she had to endure the pain, while Rachel sat on my lap. Immediately, Rachel turned her head, pulled her coat over her eyes, and put her hands over her ears because she didn't want to see the blood or hear the possible cries that would come from her sister. I don't blame her. I don't like to watch either. All I could do was just pray for Macayla while she had to endure that little bit of pain.

Hmmm....the events of last night got me thinking. Aren't you thankful that Jesus didn't say, "hey, can't someone ELSE just do this for me?"..."I mean, hey, can't we just leave right now?" Of course He didn't say these things. He shed HIS blood for you and for me. He went through that pain and suffering and died on the cross for all of mankind. Amazing! It needed to be done and only He could do it...for us. God in His wisdom knew that...amazing love, how could this be!!!

As Rachel sat there eyes closed and hands over ears not wanting to see any blood or hear any pain coming from her sister, the thought that came to me was this.....I wonder how Jesus' mother, Mary, felt seeing the cruelty done to her son. The afflicted pain and agony would've been too much for her. I imagine her wailing out. I imagine tears beyond comprehension. I imagine levels of hurt that I have never been through in my entire life. I imagine her covering her eyes and ears not wanting to see the pain on her son's face or hear the screams that would come from each nail....the nails meant for you and for me. I imagine those things, yet, I cannot truly imagine ever experiencing something like that.

I don't know about you, but I'm guilty of thinking that the hurt and pain I go through in life is so bad. I mean people just don't understand. After all, my hurt is worse than yours. And I hate to admit it, but sometimes when people hurt me, I want them to go through some of that pain as well. And when I'm going through it, I just want to pull my covers over my head, close my eyes and cover my ears so I don't have to think about all the pain going on around me. Good news...Jesus says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28.

The next time the pain of trials come your way, consider it joy. Yes, you heard me right. These words are just as much for me as they are for you. Instead of wanting someone else to go through it for you, consider this as a way that you can struggle through it and be better on the other side of it. Jesus did it for us. Let's be thankful for that.