Kleenex Lessons

by | Jul 25, 2019 | Devotional | 1 comment

box-of-tissues.png

Today’s article is another installment in Brother P.’s column, “Lessons From the Nursing Home.”

I recently watched a guy get a Kleenex out of the box in the nursing home where I work. You ask; “How could you possibly learn a lesson from a guy wiping his nose?” Well, let me tell you.

This guy, let’s call him Frank, is relatively young and had a stroke some years back. This stroke left Frank without the use of his right arm, impaired use of his right leg, and made it difficult for him to talk.

One day, Frank walked over to the desk where I was typing some notes, grabbed a Kleenex with his left hand, but when he pulled on the tissue, the whole box just lifted with it. He then tried to shake the tissue out of the box, but the box just shook with him. Then he looked at me — I was sitting within easy reach of him and his tissue box — and instead of indicating that he wanted help, he walked away to another chair, sat down, stabilized the Kleenex box between his one working leg and his belly, then (after a few failed trials) pulled the Kleenex out with his good (working) left hand.

I marveled that he did not just get me to help. I guess you could apply this situation to our spiritual lives a couple of different ways. Let’s just try sins and struggles.

Sins

Frank noticed a weakness, and he decided to conquer it. He did not just give up, raise the white flag of surrender or just sit around blaming his situation. What if I saw a reoccurring sin in my life and decided to stomp it? Doesn’t matter if I am going into the fight with one arm tied behind my back. I will struggle, fight, kick, and spit until that sin is history.

Struggles

As humans, we are sometimes hardheaded and will try to do things on our own, despite knowing that we could look to our Father, who is very willing and capable of helping us, and sitting there next to us waiting for us to indicate that we need the help.

Which scenario do you identify most with?

Bio Emil

This article has undergone ministry review and approval.

Author

  • Brother P.

    Brother P. lives in the mountains with his wife and two boys who he's tremendously thankful for.

    View all posts Physical therapist. Laying on the roof looking up at the stars with my boys, fishing on the lake, glassing deer, doing anything outside. 2 Nephi 4:16-35.

1 Comment

  1. Teri-Lyn Tunno

    Unfortunately, I would have to identify most with trying to handle things on my own. And even the times I have tried to let go and let God take the lead, I have pulled it back at times when I felt nothing was happening. I am working on trusting God to handle everything and remember it is in His time. I am just not sure sometimes if He wants me to do more instead of just sitting back and waiting. Great blog!

    Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Further Reading

The Sunflower Seed Kid

If you read the Gospel Blog, then you may remember that I work with children with special needs, and this column is dedicated to the lessons that I have learned from those kids.  One 12-year-old boy that I work with—let’s call him Jimmy—was digging through the...

Read More

P.R.A.Y.

I recently read a little devotional on effectual praying, and it really touched my heart. The message is too good not to share it with you. It turned the word “PRAY” into an acrostic. P: Praise His name, give Him all glory! Thank Him for everything He has...

Read More

Never Miss a New Article

Subscribe to Our Email List
Sign up and get every new blog post sent straight to your inbox so you always have the day’s devotional at your fingertips.

We never share your email address with anyone for any reason, and we use it only to send you Gospel Blog emails. Just articles, not ads!

Your Story for God’s Glory

Share Your Testimony on Miracle Monday

We devote Miracle Monday to sharing miracle stories. From finding a lost wedding ring to healing cancer on the spot, Jesus Christ has done it all, big and small.

And we want to hear about what He’s done for you.

The Gospel Blog Is Open for Submissions

We encourage devotional-style or scripture-based articles in the ballpark of 500 words. We are open to any topic that glorifies God and unites the Church.