The Meaning of Thanksgiving

"Where did you get your cold?"  The lady asked me.

"Who knows?  I get exposed to all sorts of germs every day," I said.

"I'm sure that's true," she said.  "With your profession I'm sure you see all people with all kinds of 'flu bugs.'"

"That may be true," I said.  "But I think I catch far more illnesses from my children than from my patients.  I can do things at work that protect me, but my children have a way of fighting through any precautions I might put into place."

Before I had children, I imagined there would be many things that I would experience when my wife and I had children.  I don't know that I ever thought it would mean that I would get to enjoy the thrills of every upper respiratory infection that passes through our little community.

What does not kill me certainly will boost the stock price of Hall's cough drops...

We have reached the time of year when we not only get flu bugs, but we have to be grateful.  Among other things, I am thankful for the minions that spread those flu bugs within our household.

I say this in a joking way, but everything good thing in our lives also has a "downside."  The difference between a grateful spirit and a pessimistic, discouraged attitude has to do with focus.

All too often, my focus is on the dark clouds and not the highlights of silver that surround them -- even when there is far more brilliance than darkness.

I am thankful for my children, even when they share their coughs and snotty noses with me.  My life is richer because of them and realizing that is the beginning of the most important part of Thanksgiving, a grateful heart.

Swift to Hear

"How's your neck doing?"  I asked the older African American gentleman.  We were standing in the Food Lion parking lot.

"My neck is fine,"  he told me.  "But my left arm is still numb and tingly."

Fortunately, I suppose, this was not a patient of mine.  I knew him from where he had come in with a family member to the office and he told me about his arm.  I had wisely suggested that he seek medical attention from his doctor.

"I know," I said.  "But often that comes from a pinched nerve in your neck.  Have you seen your doctor yet?"

Ben nodded gloomily.  "I tell you," he said.  "She don't listen to much of what I say.  I no sooner start to tell her what is going on then she's got something to say and I have to stop talking."

"That's not good," I said.

"No,"  Ben said.  "I'm sure she's really smart, but how can she figure out what will help me when she don't hear the symptoms I'm having and what I've done to try to fix them?"

It was a good question.  Clearly it is hard to make informed decisions when you don't have all the facts.  There is something more.  People will never believe that you really care if you don't take the time to listen to them.

Doctors are the same as other people.  We are a lot better at talking than listening.  At the same time it is a profession that depends on us actually hearing what our patients are telling us.

The book of James says "...let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger."  Truth to tell, I have focused more on the anger part of this verse.  That's good.  People shouldn't have to worry about whether they will say the wrong thing and I will blow my top, but it is just as important that I seal my lips and listen, both to my patients and to others in my life.

Only then will I hear what others are saying.

Only then will they know that I care.

The Leading Physicians of the World!!!

"Dr. Waldron," the letter read.  "You have been picked as one of the top physicians in Brookneal, Virginia!"  The letter went on to explain to me about a book that my name would be featured in.  It wouldn't cost me anything and all sorts of people would get a copy of the book and discover how I ranked highly among my peers.  It all sounded pretty amazing.  All I had to do was go to a website and verify some biographical information.

I had to laugh.  There are only two physicians in Brookneal and for me to be picked as only one of the top doctors is not particularly a great honor.  Beyond which, it all seemed like a scam designed to get some money out of me in some way or other.

At the same time, I have to be honest and say that I did read the letter very carefully.  I've known for a long time how amazing I am, but it was a bit gratifying to have someone else realize it as well.

Advertisers and scammers know how to use our pride against us.  They see how we want to be recognized and figure out how to use that to get us to get their products.

If other humans can use our pride, Satan is ever so much better at using this weakness against us.  He sees our desires to be smarter or more beautiful or more famous and he promises that he can give us all that and more, if we will just follow his path.

There is only one problem.  Satan's path doesn't lead where he says it will.  More than that, pride will only get us into trouble.  "Pride goes before a fall..." the writer of Proverbs wrote thousands of years ago.  Nothing has change in the 21st century

It is only when I gain a humble spirit that I can move from being one of the Leading Physicians of the World to being a simple family doctor and actually help my patients.  It isn't about who gets a copy of a book with my photo in it or whether I win some award, it is about whether I take the time to listen to the 80 year old lady sitting across from me and cut her toenails for her.

Even if no one every finds out who I am, I can care for people in need.

Concern for Others

The older lady looked over at me as I bent over my computer, trying to get her prescriptions in order to send to the pharmacy.  "How's your Mom?"  She asked me, conversationally.

"Oh, ahm, I think she's doing pretty well," I said, knowing that the lady didn't know my mother at all.

"Well, tell her to have a Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas from me," she said.  "And while you're at it, let her know to have a Happy Halloween too."

"Sure," I said, trying to picture my mother walking around her neighborhood dressed up as something unusual.  I just couldn't do it.

"Remind her to be sure to get all of her candy checked out before she eats any of it too," she said, imparting one last piece of pithy advice.

"I'll try to remember to let her know," I said, finally hitting send on the prescriptions.

I have many little conversations every day, some with my patients, some with my children, and some with random people I have contact with.  I don't remember most of them, but this one stood out to me.

Part of it was that it amused me quite a bit, but it was more than that.  Here was a woman who was concerned about my mother -- not because she knew her, but because she was my mother.  The concern expressed was real and not put on.

I find that it is easy to think of people we are related to and those who are our friends.  When they are in trouble, we remember them in prayer and we reach out to them when they are in need.  It is awfully easy to forget people who are just as needy, but who we don't know well or haven't seen for awhile.

There is something gained when we broaden our circles and reach out to pray for and care for people we aren't closely connected with.  The people we pray for will be blessed, but so will we, one caring pray at a time.