Encouragement

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A Father’s Hand
© 2008

by

Stephen A. Peterson


As night fell upon Seminole Regional Hospital in Seminole, Oklahoma, nurse Felicity Poteet, a recent nursing school graduate and newest nurse of the hospital, prepared to make her rounds on her assigned wing. Walking through the dimly lit floor, nurse Poteet heard sniffling and whimpering coming from one of the rooms somewhere in the middle of the hospital. Curious she turned her attention these sounds. It was room 303. Going in then turning on the light up, she saw 14 year old Monica Henry. Her yellow flowered nightgown quivered under the bluish hospital blanket. Monica’s hazel eyes spilled over with a river of tears soaking the hospital pillow. In the morning Monica would go into surgery to repair a leg broken, a compound fracture, sustained in a soccer game.

“Is thee something I can do for you, Monica?” nurse Poteet asked wrapping her arm around her.

“I’m so scared! I’ve never stayed in a hospital before and I am all alone and by myself,” she replied through her tears.

“Is it okay if I stay with you for a little bit,” nurse Poteet said.

Monica nodded “yes”. Though she tried hard to stop crying nurse Poteet’s presence could not stop her tears or fears. Fearing Monica would get no sleep, nurse Poteet was able to get Monica’s doctor to approve of a sedative. The medicine proved to be of no help to Monica. Her tears grew making her more and more uncomfortable as well.

In desperation, nurse Poteet telephoned her parents. In less than 20 minutes, Monica’s father stood by his daughter’s hospital bed. With her hand anchored in his and angelic smile on her face, Monica closed her eyes and slept deeply.

When tragedies, difficulties and fears come into a person’s life and you feel alone, frightened and lost, there is a loving, caring Father beside you. His hand reaches down, outstretched with more power, compassion and mercy than is contained in every heavenly body in the expanding universe!! Reach up! Put your hand in His!

…And rest deeply and be comforted with the assurance that you are safe no matter what may be around you or whatever challenge may be before you!

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