Sticky Tape

Wednesday’s...PICC line change days. I use to dread them in the beginning. Ripping off sticky tapes and sponges, the deep sting of swabbing with antibiotic liquids, and the ensuing soreness that evening that impedes sleep. Then, isn’t it funny how our minds shift. All it takes is one moment. A moment when you wonder, “Is my PICC line getting infected? Oh my gosh! What if it is infected? What if it’s spread everywhere? And I’ll have to take a bunch of antibiotics and the regimen I’ll have to go through...if the infection doesn’t kill me first! Can they change the PICC line right now and make sure I don’t have an infection?” Now, after envisioning the worse case scenario, my mindset changes and I look forward to PICC line changes because I know they are for my ultimate benefit. Do I enjoy the ripping and the stinging? Absolutely not! But I enjoy the benefit of cleanliness. It’s similar with spiritually and emotionally wounds. I don’t look forward to, nor do I enjoy, confronting someone or being confronted when issues arise. But confrontations are inevitable in relationships. When someone offends me, it’s work, albeit hard work, forgiving him or her and cleaning the slate. Taking the time to work through and process emotional issues is much more difficult and less fun (temporarily) than drowning them in food or drink. All of these take time and work and prioritization. They take a mindset that is looking at the end goal, seeing the prize of your health spiritually, emotionally, physically and relationally. Sometimes it will sting. Sometimes it will hurt like sticky tape getting ripped off a wound. But when we change our viewpoint, it all becomes “good” pain that helps us reach our goals. “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14