“Searching for the Call Light” by Chris Faubus

Today’s guest blog is written by Chris Faubus. Chris, who resides in Lubbock, Texas, was a Registered Nurse for 36 years and recently retired. She has also owned a home care business for 17 years which provides non-medical services to seniors. Chris was married for 45 years before her husband passed away in 2014. She has a daughter and a son, eight grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Besides Jesus, her family is her world!

When I started my career as a registered nurse 35 years ago, I worked on an extremely busy surgical floor. Those patients who were being prepared for surgery were typically anxious about the procedure itself, what the effects of the anesthesia might be, or how much pain they would experience once the surgery was completed. As I prepared each patient, I would reassure them that they would be in good hands during the procedure and afterwards. I would work diligently to keep their pain level to a minimum.

I was also prepared for the myriad of call lights that would begin to light up with the return of each patient to the floor after their recovery period. I recognized they perceived their call light to be their “lifeline” that would bring someone to not only ease their pain but also offer them comfort that their pain, in time, would become less and less because it was all part of the healing process.

One day as I was preparing to end my shift, my nurse manager came to me and said that the nurse who was scheduled, had become ill, and could I PLEASE stay and cover her shift. Everything inside of me wanted to say no, but I heard the word “yes” come out of my mouth! I thought, Lord, really? Another eight hours of answering call lights?” As I was making my rounds, I heard a patient who was yelling “Help!” I rushed to her room and her eyes were wide with fear and she began to cry saying, “I can’t find it. I can’t find my call light!” I quickly located it for her and clipped it to her pillow. I told her that if she needed anything, she needed only to press the call light and I would be right there. Her body relaxed and as she breathed a sigh of relief, she touched her call light and said, “Thank God for my call light!”

As I drove home, exhausted after sixteen hours of work, that patient’s words kept resonating within me —“Thank God for my call light.” As I prepared for bed, I felt the Holy Spirit speaking to my spirit about the many times I become anxious and fearful about situations in my life and career, fearful about the safety and well being of my family, and even fearful about world events. He then lovingly reminded me that I too, just like my patient, had a “call light” and His name is Jesus! I instantly knew that I would never view patient’s call lights the same. They relied on that to get relief from pain and comfort when they were anxious and fearful!

What about you? Do you have a “call light” that you never use because you’re too independent or you see it as a sign of weakness to reach out for help?

Or maybe you’re that person who is desperately searching for something or someone to take away your mountain of fear and anxiety that is robbing you of your joy, peace, and sleep.

Psalm 94:19 says “When doubts filled my mind, Your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.” Jesus is the “call light” for which you have been searching. When you call out to Him, He ALWAYS answers because He has an unfailing, unrelenting love for you! Press your call light! He’s waiting to answer!