Oh, How Easily We Forget

It must pain Our Jesus very much to see how easily we forget about Him.  I am very guilty of this also, but I observed recently something that absolutely affected me, almost to the point of tears.  And I would have cried them if I had been alone and not in such a busy place.

I share this with you, dear reader, not to perpetuate any more feelings of guilt (of which we can all certainly have) but instead for you to take notice of how Our Lord must suffer a thousand more times than we do, especially from lukewarm hearts that forget to thank Him.  And He suffers silently...all the time.

Here's what happened...

A few weeks ago, a cashier at my local grocery store (who has gotten to know me somewhat, given my frequency there) asked me to pray fervently for a particular request.  She explained to me that her grandson was diagnosed with a rare but fatal disease that was rapidly getting worse.

She explained that there are no medical treatments for this particular disease.  Her daughter and son-in-law had no idea how they were going to break the news to the child, let alone their other children.  Nothing less than a miracle was needed, the woman said.  And she begged me to pray for that miracle to come as quickly as possible.  I promised her that I would.

Weeks have passed, since every time I've gone into the grocery store since then, she hasn't been there (or at least we've missed each other).  But this past weekend, when I did my grocery shopping, there she was...in Checkout Line #12.   I got in her line and immediately asked how her grandson was doing.

"Oh, the doctors misdiagnosed it," she said casually.  "It was a false alarm. We totally worried for nothing.  I'm sorry I asked you to pray.  It's no big deal.  Everything's fine."

There was a hint of frustration in her voice, too, as if she was angry that the doctors made a mistake.  I inquired what the condition really was, to which she responded vaguely.

"Oh, it's treatable.  And the kid is responding to the treatment.  So everything's fine.  Sorry about that."

She didn't want to give details, and she was much more interested in talking about other things, actually, so she matter-of-factly went on to another topic as she scanned and bagged my groceries.

After our brief chat, I paid for my groceries, wished her well, and walked out of the store... in stunned silence.

Had we not just witnessed a miracle, whereby the doctors' diagnosis was completely overturned, due to new medical evidence?  Hadn't a hopeless situation just become hopeful?  Was this not the miracle we asked for?  Was this not the result of our ardent prayers and God's fatherly love and benevolence?

I was shocked that she couldn't see it.  And then I thought about how Jesus must be suffering silently about this.  And then I remembered that there's many times I've forgotten to thank Him.  And so many more of these times I am completely unaware of...even still.

God, have mercy on us.  Help us to recognize your loving hand, and help us to thank you every day!