SIMPLE SHOT

The nurse knew the little boy would not like his shot.  Most children never do.  Nurse Violet had tried and tried to convince the little ones that shots would help them feel better.  “No way, it will make me hurt more.” the little boy whispered as he sat in his mother’s lap.  Johnny cried and cried.  “I don’t want a shot Mama” he quietly said in his mother’s ear.  He wanted to be brave, but there were limits!

Nurse Violet got out her large jar of suckers.  “Johnny, I will give you one of these cherry suckers if you will let me give you this shot.  Dr. Jones wants me to give it to you so you will get better. “But Nurse Violet”, Johnny sniffled, “I think I feel better already, so now you don’t have to give me that big ‘ole shot!”

“This is one of the worst parts of the jobs” she thought.  “What will I do?”  she thought.  “This little guy is scared to death.”  She decided to get out her pretend syringe.  “Johnny, look what I have…let me show you how it works.” Nurse Violet said.Nurse Violet got out a small bowl of water. With Johnny looking, she dipped the tip into the bowl. Slowly she pulled up the water through the syringe. “What do you see Johnny?” Nurse Violet asked.

“I see the shot thingy being filled with water…all filled. It is just like Jesus Nurse Violet.” “Like Jesus? Where was this going?” she thought.“Well Johnny, if you think it is like Jesus, that is ok.” “You can’t see it can you?” Johnny questioned. “No, Johnny, I really don’t see Jesus in the syringe” she replied.

Johnny laughed. “Ah, Nurse Violet…you are so funny. Jesus isn’t in the syringe silly. He lives in us, like the water in the syringe.” He smiled one of his toothless smiles. “Well Johnny, I think you know about this more than I do” she said.

“Ah, this is easy stuff Nurse Violet. See, when we ask Jesus to come and live in our heart we tell ourselves to get out of the way-Jesus is coming in! There isn’t a lot of room for both, so just like the shot giver thingy, we pull Jesus into our hearts. We can have lots of Him and little of us, or we can have just a little of Him and lots of us. If we do it that way though, our life can be sad.”

“There you go Johnny, all done!” “What?” Johnny cried. “You just got your shot and did not even know it. And guess what? I got all the medicine in, so you will be feeling better soon. If I had not got in all in you would not be feeling all that much better.” Nurse Violet grinned.

“Yeah, I needed it all…and because Jesus is in my heart filling me up…I did not even feel the shot.” Johnny smiled again. But suddenly the smile faded. A tear trickled down his face.

“Johnny, I thought the shot did not hurt you” Mom said. “Oh Mom it doesn’t hurt at all, but I know. But I think it hurt Jesus since he is all in my heart. That makes me so sad.” “Sweet Johnny” Mom said as she hugged him tightly. “Sweet Johnny indeed” Nurse Violet said as she handed him the biggest cherry sucker she had…..”It is okay with Jesus, He chose to hurt for us Johnny. He loves you so much for caring, and He is okay, I promise.”

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer love, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of Good, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

I think I might look at that simple shot a little differently next time.

Be blessed~

IN CHRIST ALONE

Isaiah 55:8-9

*google image, NIV Bible*