Anytime Kenadie gets sick we have a serious problem. She hates taking medicine. She’s gotten use to taking Benadryl or Tylenol, but anytime we have to give her an antibiotic I would just as soon try to skin a live bear. For instance, earlier this week the changing weather got the better of her and she came down with an ear infection. Not a big deal. She grows ear infections like some farmers grow crops of corn. But the inevitable antibiotic came and chaos ensued.
Tuesday afternoon I came home from work and it was time for Kenadie to take her medicine. Instead of putting her in a full nelson and forcing it into her mouth as we typically have to do, I was bound and determined that she would take it on her own. So I handed her the medicine cup and told her to take it. She said “No.” I told her she had to the count of five to drink it or she would be whipped. “One, two, three four, five.” She did nothing. So I stood her up and gave her one good smack on the bottom. She cried and we started over. At the count of five nothing had happened again. So I stood her up again and gave her another good smack on the bottom. This went on for probably 20 minutes (I have a somewhat stubborn child). Finally we told her to go to her room and when she was ready to take her medicine she could come out. That went on for another 30 minutes until she finally came out and still reluctantly took her medicine.
I cannot adequately express how aggravating it is under those circumstance to make Kenadie take her medicine. But then I stop and think about those times when I have to “take my medicine,” so to speak. No, I’m not talking about a prescription or over the counter medication. But at times I do have to take my spiritual and intellectual medicine. That is, I have to accept my own imperfections and the resulting advice/criticism that others have to offer.
I think we all find ourselves far too defensive at times when it comes to being wrong or doing wrong. The way we defend our words or actions sometimes you might think we assume we are perfect. We must never say anything wrong or do anything wrong because anytime we are called out for our words or actions we immediately defend why those words or actions were right, whether they were or not. Why is it so hard for us to “take our medicine” and admit we are wrong when we are wrong? It is inevitable that at times we will be – the only way we can grow from our mistakes is if we choose to admit them and correct them.
Some of the most profound words in the New Testament are found in Luke 15:21 when the prodigal son returned home to his father. He did not come back and try to defend his actions. They were indefensible. No, he had to take his medicine and when he did the inevitable result was the following words: “I have sinned…” That is a pattern worthy for us to follow as we weave our way through this sick and twisted world. We’re not always going to be right, we’re not always going to do right, and we’re not always going to say right. When those times come let’s stop kicking, screaming, crying, and living in denial of what our realistic needs are. The medicine we are called to take in those situations is the only thing that ensures our spiritual health so that we can have the abundant life that God can and will provide.
-Andy Brewer