Bandaging Wounds

 

Bandaging wounds.  Over the years, when I read these words, it makes me think of when the children were smaller, and their knees got scraped.  I would gently take them, clean up the scrape with soap and water, and put a band-aid on their wound.  The bandage and a kiss made everything better.  Most recently, as my mother had surgery and I change the bandage, I can see that the wound is getting better, and healing is occurring.  One of the careers that I respect the most is nursing.  Nurses work so hard to help the healing process, bandaging wounds on their patients and ensuring their care.

Broken hearted.  A broken heart can be more difficult to see and treat.  Whatever the circumstances may be, when we have a broken heart, it is not as easy as taking out a band-aid and putting it over the wound.  I am sure we wished healing a broken heart was that easy.  Yet, it is not.  Our hearts can be broken for so many reasons:  a broken relationship, a loved one’s passing, tragedy, disappointment, rejection, loss of hope.  The list can go on and on.  One of the most challenging items of a broken heart is that others typically cannot see it, and it is hard for them to ‘take out the band-aid’ and help.

Today marks a somber day in American history, the attacks of September 11^th.  I am certain that if you are reading this, you remember exactly where you were that day, and those memories flood your soul.  That day, and subsequently days after, there was – and continues to be – broken hearts and wounds that need to be healed.  Wounds of our physical bodies and hearts can last a lifetime, especially when reminders are so vivid.  Nurses and doctors worked hard to bandage the wounds of so many that day, but lingering effects from those wounds are with so many more than twenty years later.  Broken hearts are also lingering from the tragedy of that day.

There is only one that can heal our wounds and mend our broken hearts.  That is the great physician himself, Jesus.  He is the only one that can provide the peace that is so desperately needed when our hearts and bodies are broken to this extent.  Our simple faith in Jesus can move our thoughts from despair to hope and from hurt to healing.  In Him, our wounds will be healed.  This can only happen if we, as humans, let Jesus into our lives.  This can be difficult when the hurt of body and heart is so great.  We may believe that NOTHING can heal us.  Let the One who came to earth to bring salvation for our sins enter our hearts.  Let the One who came to earth to save our souls bring hope and healing.  Pray to Him, listen for His answers, read His word, and feel His peace – the peace that passes all understanding.  Let those that Jesus puts in our lives enter into our healing, let them help bind our physical wounds and broken hearts.  Jesus is the greatest healer of all!

Dearest Jesus, great healer, come to all who are struggling with broken hearts and physical wounds.  Heal them, provide strength and peace to all who call upon your name.  May faith grow in all who come to you.  Amen!