Seeing Beauty in the Central Line? (Post from Melissa)

Twenty-six days ago when Raul and I were told Myla needed to have a central line surgically inserted inside her chest, my heart screamed "no"! The central line catheter is a small, long, soft plastic tube. It is put in a vein that goes straight into the heart. The catheter has two openings and we were told through this line her blood would be drawn, medicines would be given to her including her chemo, she would receive blood transfusions and her bone marrow transplant, if necessary. The thought of ugly tubes coming out of our beautiful, flawless daughter was overwhelming. Right after Myla's surgery 17 days ago, I was nervous holding her since I didn't want to accidentally tug on that ugly central line. I put her in cute outfits but nothing hid the fact that Myla had that central line. Gradually, I got used to her having it but did I see beauty in the central line? NO WAY!

Two nights ago, I sat in Myla's room with the door closed listening to a child about 10 months old crying. When the nurse came in the room, I asked why the child was so upset. She told me they were having trouble starting an IV and drawing blood from his tiny body. That's when it hit me. That child had no central line! The little boy was in pain because of the needles poking him whereas Myla hasn't experienced any pain because everything comes and goes from her central line. God had allowed her to have that tubing to spare her the constant pain from needle pokes. Suddenly, my attitude changed towards that "ugly" central line.

The Bible tells us in James 1:2-4 'count it joy when you face testing and trials because enduring the testing makes you mature and complete' (my paraphrase). Psalm 34:1 says 'praise shall continually be on my lips' and Philippians 4:4 says 'rejoice always'. How can a Christian face trials and rejoice at the same time? Have a central line! The central line is that connection with God where you trust Him completely to work out the details; you don't worry or get bitter and angry when His will is different than you had hoped. It's a choice of attitude. I can choose to feel every painful poke of my testing needle and become angry and bitter that I'm in an unpleasant situation. Or I can choose the no-pain route of the central line and, despite the situation, become strengthened and peaceful knowing God's character and plan is perfect even though I don't understand it and it will produce good in my life. I realized that I too had a central line. Do I see beauty in the central line now? YES!