This Too Shall Pass

I just had a procedure done to break up a kidney stone. After the procedure, the Doctor put in a stint into my ureter (the tube going from your kidney to your bladder). Let me tell you, I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.

I could feel the thing inside me. Every move I made, it moved. While sleeping, if I turned over, I could feel the thing move. If I needed to sit down, I eased myself down, as I could feel it and didn’t want to hurt myself. Who designed this wicked contraption? It seemed so barbaric. In these days and times when we can transplant hearts and other organs, why do we need something like a stint, still? How come they haven’t imagined something other than this.

The thing was so uncomfortable, I couldn’t think straight. I couldn’t do anything. I walked slowly. I just wanted to sit down and not move. I was supposed to have it in me for two weeks, but after the weekend, I called the Doctor out of desperation, begging his nurse if there was any way to get the thing out? I just couldn’t take it anymore. I had things to do and nothing was getting done.

The nurse called me back and said I could come in the next day. I wanted to kiss and hug her, but we were talking on the phone. She said it would have to be 10:30. I didn’t care. I would sit there all day if I had to.

When I got to the Doctor’s office the next day, the nurse said the Doctor had to look over my x-ray to see if I could get out the stint or not. NOOOOOO!!! It can’t be a question. It needs to come out. Please don’t say that! NOOOOO! I can’t have this thing in me for another week and a half. Please NO! NO! NO! NO! I began to pray desperately. Please Lord, let the Doc take this thing out! Please! Please! Please!

When the Doctor came in I held my breath. He looked at the x-ray with me to see if it was possible to take out the stint. I was ready to sit there and move right in, until he agreed to take the thing out. I would stage a protest. He said he could take it out. A flood of relief washed over me. Thank Goodness! I didn’t even care if it hurt to get it out. Just get the thing out!

It did hurt to take it out. And it burned for about two hours after. But it was out and I could move freely again. Those four days, that thing stayed inside me were the worst. I kept telling myself, “This too shall pass!” And it did.

Throughout our lives we have and will have momentary afflictions. Momentary pain or problems. But this too shall pass. None of it will be forever. We live on the planet for a really short time. Even if our lives are plagued with pain, physical or emotional, it won’t be forever. For the Christian, we have an eternity to look forward to. This life we live will be momentary. With all of its problems, pain and afflictions, all of it will pass. If not while you are here, it will definitely be gone when we go home to be with the Lord.

So take heart Christian. Remember that all of our afflictions are but momentary. This too shall pass. And if a doctor ever tells you he needs to put a stint inside you, run screaming from his office as fast as you can and never look back. It really is that bad.