Fear of the Needle

Fear not, for I am with you...

Isaiah 41:10

 

This afternoon, I was trying to figure out how to make a side dish out of a half of a bag of frozen shredded potatoes when I thought of the (not so) bright idea of perhaps utilizing some of the potato soup I had in the pantry.   I opened the can (tear-off lid), tasted the contents, and immediately realized that it would not be useable with the shreds.  I dumped the contents into another container, grabbed my Dobie pad, filled the can with water and soap, and jammed my hand down in the can to clean it out for recycling.  I immediately felt a jab of pain in my little finger, and knew that I had cut myself on the sharp inner edge of the can.  Sure enough, blood was running everywhere as I surveyed a short but relatively deep cut.

I immediately wrapped it in a paper towel with some pressure to stop the bleeding, and reached for the hydrogen peroxide.  After thoroughly dousing the injury with the peroxide, I put on a bandage and sat down for a minute to catch my breath.  That is when the thought hit me - "You need to go get a Tetanus shot!"  I had just been outside with the dog and the dirt, and I haven't had a Tetanus shot in at least 20 years.  I sat in that chair for quite a few minutes, arguing with myself about why I did NOT need to go get a shot.  In the end, however, my rational side overcame my timid one, and I grabbed my keys to drive over to Patient First.

I wish that I could tell you that I talked with God on the trip to the clinic - verbalizing my fears and remembering His promises.  Unfortunately, however, I spent the 15 minute trip ramping myself up to the horrible experience of a needle - an experience that has terrified me since childhood. By the time I reached Patient First, my blood pressure was quite high and I was rapidly becoming a basket case.  Forty minutes later when the nurse finally arrived to administer the shot with the tiniest needle I have ever seen on a syringe, the experience was over in the blink of an eye, I didn't even feel the needle, and I felt like an utter fool as the young nurse said, "See?  All that anxiety over nothing!"

On the way home, I apologized to the Lord for my lack of faith - actually, for my lack of communication with Him at all prior to receiving the injection.  Even after all these years, I am still struggling to remember that it always works better when prayer comes before panic.