LOSING HOPE? HEART SICK?
This appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Jane McAdams told the story of her sixty-nine-year-old mother who had lived a life deeply marked by the Great Depression of the 1930’s. The evidence showed in her frugality and utterly practical perspective on all material things. The only extravagance she had ever permitted herself, McAdams wrote, was a frilly nightgown kept in a bottom drawer, “In case I should ever have to go into the hospital.” That day had come. All the symptoms that made her visit to the hospital necessary spoke of a serious cancer, and McAdams feared the moment when she would have to tell her mother that the prognosis for the future was very poor. The daughter wondered, “Should I tell my mother? Did she already know? If not, did she suspect? … Could I give her any hope? Was there in fact any hope?”
As she wrestled with these questions, McAdams noted that her mother’s birthday was approaching. Perhaps she could brighten her mother’s days by purchasing a new nightgown because the one that had been in the bottom drawer was yellowed, limp, and unattractive. So, she purchased and presented a new nightgown and matching robe. “If I could not hope to cure her disease, at least I could make her feel like the prettiest patient in the entire hospital.” McAdams described how her mother studied the gown after the package was opened. And after a while she pointed to the wrapping and the gown and said to her daughter, “’Would you mind returning it to the store? I don’t really want it.” Then picking up the paper she pointed to a display advertisement and said, “This is what I really want, if you could get that.” What she pointed to was a display advertisement of expensive designer summer purses.
My reaction was one of disbelief. Why would my mother, so careful about extravagances, want an expensive summer purse in January one that she could not possibly use until June? She would not even live until spring, let alone summer. Almost immediately, I was ashamed and appalled at my clumsiness, ignorance, insensitivity, call it what you will. With a shock, I realized she was finally asking me what I thought about her illness. She was asking me how long she would live. She was, in fact, asking me if I thought she would live even six months. And she was telling me that if I showed I believed she would live until then, then she would do it. She would not let that expensive purse go unused. That day I returned the gown and robe and bought the summer purse.
That was many years ago. The purse is worn out and long gone, as are at least half a dozen others. And next week my mother flies to California to celebrate her 83rd birthday. My gift to her? The most expensive designer purse I could find. She’ll use it well.
The gift of God’s hope to a broken-world person is the gift not of a nightgown that announces death, but of a summer purse that says there is life in the midst of trouble. That is the message of the Cross and the Empty Tomb to every broken-world person. Proverbs 13:12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.”
Whatever your pain today… I have good news:
THERE IS HOPE.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
YOU ARE SEEN.
YOU ARE LOVED. OH SO LOVED.
Dr. Michael Sprague serves as Louisiana State Chaplain with the Capitol Commission and President of Grace Adventures. He ministers in a non-partisan pastoral role at the Baton Rouge Capitol, offering Bible studies, prayer, and spiritual care to leaders. He helped launch Touch Global Crisis Response after Hurricane Katrina and authored two books. Michael does life in Mandeville, LA with his wife Donna. His motto is “Bet the Farm on God,” reflecting his passion to help others know Jesus. You can find more information about Michael here.
Image by ChatGPT
Books by Dr. Michael Sprague
0 Comments