"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You."
Isaiah 26:3
Sitting by the bedside of the young patient in her care, the massage therapist reached out and took hold of the hand lying peacefully on the bed. As she massaged the hand and talked in softened tones, the therapist considered the role she had played in the lives of her patients. The therapist recalled various patients she had been blessed to give a healing touch to and recalled many intimate moments with those in her care.
One patient, in particular, came to mind, and she slowly rehearsed the experience. Millie (not her real name) was an end-stage cancer patient in hospice care, and she had been approved for massage therapy as a part of her treatment plan. The therapist approached the care visit as she would any other by checking her supplies and taking a moment to mentally prepare for the introduction. Bed-bound by this time, Millie looked up with weary eyes as the therapist approached, but still managed to weakly smile. The therapist introduced herself and pulled a chair close to the edge of the bed. Speaking quietly, she shared that she would begin with a gentle hand massage. This was welcomed. As the therapist ministered with her hands, she noticed that Millie was drifting off following a dose of painkillers administered by the hospice nurse. The therapist hummed while she worked. Her hum eventually grew into a song, and she began to sing "This Little Light of Mine." When she sensed movement on the bed, she looked up from her work to see Millie's lips moving and realized that she was singing along to the words of the song. Millie's eyes remained closed, and the therapist noticed that the weary lines along Millie's forehead eased as the song continued.
"Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine."
The therapist smiled and realized that deep down in Millie's soul was a little girl who long ago memorized the words of a song about being a witness. The therapist saw that these words provided Millie with a source of inspiration that could be relied on regardless of what had to be faced. It was a fulfillment of Isaiah 26:3, "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You."
Millie's story reminds us to place the words that will carry us through this life's experience deep in our hearts. Our physical health and well-being are inseparably tied to our mental health and well-being. Having God's words of encouragement stored in our minds can be like the flicker of a candle — ready to flare up for others in their times of need, and to be a source of encouragement when we need it most.
Call to Action
Believe that storing God's Word will uplift the soul, impact the thoughts, and edify others! Open God's Word today — keep the promises ever near and feed your flame.
All scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
