Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope

Shauna: This is Shauna on Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope. Today, Joni has a few important lessons for us.

Joni Eareckson Tada: And I should say they’re hospital lessons. They were written by my friend John Colombe when, back in 2006, he was lying in a hospital bed in room 387 at Saint Jude’s Hospital. John was battling cancer. It was a lengthy stay, and one night when he could not sleep, John spent precious time reviewing his outlook on life and on death.

When he woke up the next morning, he decided to write down his musings. When I read them, I thought they were worth passing on to you for that time when, who knows, you may be in a hospital or a care facility for a lengthy stay. The first thing that John wrote down—I’ve got the list here, so let me read it to you—he said, "God is in control and I am not. So trust in the Lord with all my heart. God’s got it all in his hands."

Secondly, "God’s not in a hurry, but I am. Look, I’m a patient, so John, be patient. Slow down." The next thing John wrote: "Matthew chapter 6 says today’s trouble is enough for one day. So I’m going to center my heart on the Lord rather than on my own broken-down heart. I’m going to focus on Jesus because Colossians chapter 3 says to set my mind and my heart on things above."

Another thing John wrote down: "In the hospital, there are always people worse than me, so I’m going to pray for them. I’m going to reach out with a word if I can, like the man dying a few rooms out. People groaning and crying in the night with pain, I’m going to pray for those who are too weak to get out of bed. Romans chapter 12 says to be faithful in prayer, especially in a hospital."

Another thing John wrote: "The continuum of life is always present in a hospital. I hear Brahms’ Lullaby in the hallways each time a baby is born. There are little groups of people singing ‘God Be With You Till We Meet Again’ and ‘I Come To The Garden.’ They were singing in the rooms of their dying loved ones. So I’m going to celebrate both life and death. First Corinthians 15 assures me God has a new body in store for me. What hope that is!"

And then John writes this: "And of course I’m going to be grateful for small things, like when you can go to the toilet unassisted. It’s like First Thessalonians chapter 5 says: in everything give thanks with joy. Plus, I’m going to consider how good it is to have a life partner and friends who care, who sit quietly by my side, kiss me when I am unlovely, sneak in treats, and walk alongside me in the hallways in those embarrassing hospital gowns. Never take friendship for granted. Second Corinthians chapter 7 says that friends have a room in our hearts."

And one more insight from John: "Hospital gowns are like insurance policies—neither covers me as well as I think. Long hospital stays are a good time to make preparations to pull together the papers, the will, the photos, the details of our lives, both for here and for the life to come. This hospital reminds me, is there anyone I need to forgive? Anyone with whom I should make things right? Philippians chapter 4 reminds me to be grateful for what I have."

Shauna: And friend, there are a few more hospital lessons Joni could share with us, but there’s just not enough time to share them all right now. So if you’d like the whole list—and I know you do—you can download these insights at joniradio.org. They’re called John’s Hospital Lessons.

While you’re there, ask for a free copy of God’s Hand in Hardships. It’s a collection of even more insights to encourage you through those long stays in the hospital. It’s all there for you at joniradio.org. And hey, by the way, if you have a prayer request, you can share that with us when you’re at joniradio.org, too. God bless you today, friend, and as always, thanks for listening.