That made me wonder, 'what is the average time spent in doctor's waiting rooms?' Unfortunately that number would vary DRASTICALLY for each person and/or family.
Me? I spend an average of probably 3 hours a week in waiting rooms if you figure up all appts from this last year for the five of us that I have been to. ENT, pediatrician, GI, surgery waiting, hematology, allergist, etc, etc, etc...
I should probably get out my checkbook and count up the actual number of visits and average time spent based on parking receipts- but I won't bog us down with those specifics :)
I am the type person that loves to strike up conversations with random people around me. My kids and husband sometimes get annoyed by this 'gift', but I also believe God is using me in some small way in these people's lives, but for sure I am usually blessed by them- so teaching this to my children (by example) is important to me.
One example is my latest visit to my hematologist. Every time I go I am there for hours on end- and if I get an infusion then it is at least half a day. In these visits I have come to recognize certain body language and facial expressions on those waiting in the waiting room. There are those with many family members that have their diagnosis and have come to discuss options and treatment expectations. There are those that sit a little straighter with no reading material - a little more anxious than others because they got 'abnormal' results. There are those into their treatment but not yet comfortable - some even are still in the stage of anger (I have never been able to really get a conversation going with this group), and then there are those who are so so close to the end of treatment. There is a joy on their ashen face a bounce in their step, and more often than not a really cool head covering because they have embraced their situation and no longer care about the lack of hair and eyebrows- stares don't bother them and usually they love answering questions and telling 'their story'. This group exudes a peace you would just need to observe. I really love visiting with this group of patients.
As I talked with two women in the second and last group I described ( I just tried to be quiet around the family that was so sad and there with lots of family members to hear what 'Dad's' options were), I realized other waiting rooms are the exact same - and so is life.
What I mean is we are all in one stage or another: we have just gotten the news and life is about to drastically change, we are sitting up straighter because of an intuition we have in our heart that 'some thing' is a little out of whack with us (physically, spiritually, etc.) and we are on alert as to what is coming next, we are burdened and sad because we are about to start- or are in the midst- of our 'treatment' and though the treatment can help us, it is painful, time consuming, and exhausting, and at times we think. 'Why bother?'.
But, just like this waiting room, for those that DO stick with the treatment we find ourselves eventually at peace. Not because a cure has been found, but because we have come to acceptance. Acceptance that life will never really be the same after this, acceptance that treatment can be painful, acceptance that our 'outside' (worldly values and physical gains) no longer hold that coveted place of importance- instead it is our inside that matters the most. The changes being made may not be noticeable to those around us, but WE know there is a difference, and when 'tests' come they allow us to sort of see a measurement of where we were, where we are, and maybe even how far we still have to go, but above all this we know we are stronger than we were when the process started. The strength may not be physical (our bodies take a little longer to catch up), but that strength is for sure in spirit and tenacity. Our journey has been hard fought and we may not be done, but our peace is real because of the strength that has been given AND we are more likely to look at those 'patients' around us in life and be able to say, 'hey, hang on just a little longer - it may be hell now, but in our weakness He is strong, and He is always faithful, never changing, always waiting for us just to sit down and lean on Him, and in doing so we get a peace that passes ALL understanding, and the confidence to know that no matter what is headed our way- because of all we have learned we know- God's got this! (Just give it to Him)
Matthew 6:33-34
So, be kind to those that irritate you, look for the signs of where they might be, and then maybe move forward accordingly in engaging them...
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