Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult.
Proverbs 12:16

I had to get bloodwork done the other day, so I went down to the outpatient lab. I happened to be sick with a cold that day, but that wasn't the reason I was there. I did my best to contain my coughs in my sleeve and use hand sanitizer after blowing my nose.

This guy sitting a couple chairs over from me pulls his coat up over his face every time I cough. Very obvious. Shifts in his seat, too. I think he's there with his elderly mother. She seems fine.

You know, there are a lot of germs in that room whether I contribute to them or not.

So I go back when they call my name, close my eyes (I'm slightly uncomfortable with watching needles poke through my skin), get it done, and come back out to the waiting room to put on my coat. In order to put on my coat, I have to set down my purse and water bottle. So I do, on the little table right there with the kids books.

As I set down my likely infected purse, I do feel a slight, maybe I shouldn't because I'm sick, but, after all, this is a waiting room at a healthcare facility. And how else am I supposed to get my coat on?

"I can't believe she just set down her purse."

I'm zipping up my coat now.

"What, dear?"

Snapping the snaps.

"She's sick. She's got some kind of cold or something."

Pick up my purse and turn to leave the room.

It was the guy and his mother. Talking loud enough that I could hear across the waiting room, and everyone else in between. As if they couldn't already tell from my coughing and nose blowing that I'm sick.

If we were healthy, doctors wouldn't require us to get bloodwork done.

I know in moments like these I'm supposed to pray, but instead of praying for God to speak truth to me about the situation and calm my heart, I want to pray for Him to please help the ignorant people to learn some public manners. His mother must have slacked off in that area.

Let it go, Faith. Because the Great Physician didn't come to work with the well. He came to suffer with, and ultimately heal, the sick. And I am just as sick spiritually as anyone in that waiting room, and I need the remedy just as desperately.

I think God ordered a little bloodwork for me that day, too. Just to check my levels. Because a healthy child of God bears the fruits of patience, self-control, love and gentleness. And a child of God can turn the other cheek because she knows Daddy's got it. He's not going to let this be for naught.

Maybe being frowned upon in the waiting room isn't a big deal. It wounded my pride that day (my hair looked particularly good Monday morning), but there are worse trials to bear, and you may be walking through one of them.

May I just repeat to your soul, sister, Daddy's got this. You are only responsible for you. Trust that He'll take care of the clean up of your heart and all the other messy pieces.