IN OTHER WORDS – “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself–nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror …” FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT 

You may be one of the brave ones who have no fear of needles and march into the lab, already intent on your next errand and the busy day ahead of you.OR you may be like me who used to, and probably always will…hate needles. As a little girl, I would get light-headed in the doctor’s office and grew to expect the strong scent of smelling salts. I never got over my aversion but I can handle them better now. Well, sort of.

I went for some blood work last week. I didn’t allow  myself to think about it much beforehand (always a mistake to dwell on it) so I went in with a somewhat brave attitude. I sat in the chair in the lab and immediately noticed the cool air wafting directly overhead. Normally, I hate drafts but hey, what a good idea to keep the patient cool. I studied the male nurse as he entered the computer data to run the correct labels. Okay, this was good. He looked hefty and strong and could probably catch me easily if I started to get woozy.

He came over and asked me, “which arm would you prefer?” “Neither,” was my immediate response. I backtracked and said “whichever one is easier for you.” Always be kind to the one wielding the sharp instrument about to pierce your fragile flesh. He did what nurses do and it was over very quickly. Relatively painless and I didn’t get woozy. I also didn’t watch. They post all those happy, colorful pictures on the walls for cowards like me. (calm blue waters, sunny beaches, happy faces, who are they kidding?)

I complimented him on his good work (again, always be kind…) and left with a spiffy white cottony bandage covering my tender wound. Drank down some orange juice and went on into work. I have finally learned that the fear is what actually makes me so sick. The Lord helped me to see this in one of those grand revelations on the way to a lab appointment many years ago. I had fretted over the appointment for days and worked myself into a state of panic. I almost had to pull over on the way there and realized I was making myself sick with the fear. The whole process of facing the needle would take about five minutes out of my life but I was allowing the enemy to torture me with fear for hours on end.

Today, we face a troubled and volatile society. Now more than ever before, we need to place all our trust in Jesus. Fear thou not! Whether it be facing needles or facing life. Fear is not of God!

So, are you brave when facing needles? What fear have you conquered lately?

P.S. Okay, I have to admit, I had a problem with the picture that goes with this post. Doesn’t that needle look sharp?