Goodbye Hospital. It's been....well, it's been.
Notice the little stuffed animal characters hanging on each room's door.
Anything Cute is "in" in Japan!
Not just a simple water fountain for hospital visitors...but 2 varieties of green tea and barley tea too, hot or cold at the push of a button. I try to drink cold barley tea any chance I get. Even though I am still not a fan, somehow I feel more Japanese sipping away at this island's healthy summer staple.
Walking these hallways has been a privilege. It has changed my heart forever. With the patient's doors always open you can't help but feel you are viewing more than their hospital bed as you discreetly walk by. You glimpse into their lives. Many elderly, clinging to life's breaths. Possibly never to leave, living in pain in failing flesh. But smiles and nods, greetings and eyes meeting. I walk past, able to offer nothing. A seemingly huge opportunity, yet opportunity seemed lost.
Have they had a chance to hear? I wish I could speak hope and healing into their small world of shinny long corridors and smiling nurses all in white. I can't, but I know Who can. So I pray. I pray to The One who is the Hope Giver and Healer. Through this servant God's Spirit is in this place; wandering, tip-toeing, praying past.
So Goodbye hospital. It's been...well, it's been draining and to be honest I am relieved to leave. But a little sad too. I will miss the privilege of powerful-prayer. And even though I won't walk those quiet halls anymore, I will still be praying.
Homemade cookies with verse cards attached make a meaningful "Thank you" to doctors and nurses as we pray for open, receptive hearts to His Word.
