Let's treat the symptoms

I must admit I am really enjoying blogging. With having a goal of posting once a week, I find I tend to pay closer attention to the happenings in my life each week, trying to find the lesson learned.

This week hubby ended up in the ER with a super, major, horrible migraine and his BP was 197/107 on our home BP monitor. He does have high blood pressure which is usually controlled by daily medicine. He also suffers from an occasional migraine. But this headache was so painful and his BP so high he asked me to take him to the ER.

At first, he was given two different medicines that would work together to ease the pain. A third medicine was later needed. Finally, after three shots his pain was pretty much under control. After a CAT scan his problem was diagnosed as an acute case of sinusitis. Sinusitis can be very painful and the OTC medicine he had been taking for a head cold most likely gave him the high blood pressure.

While we were there I guess the ER nurse sensed we were very concerned about the high blood pressure numbers. He told us they "treat the symptoms, not the numbers". He went on to say that hubby's BP numbers were high, but not alarmingly high. Sorry, but they alarmed both me and hubby.

During the next few days I kept thinking about what the nurse said and pondering how it could be applied to life in general. Here is an example I came up with.... our "symptom" could be worry. And sleepless nights, headaches, and crying would be our "numbers".

Now, we can treat the numbers with sleeping pills, aspirin, and shopping therapy. Or we can treat the symptom. The symptom of worry could be diagnosed as not trusting that the Lord is in control. Now that we know the facts we can than treat the symptom with a "shot" of Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him". It may take a few "shots" to really get that worry under control. Another one perhaps from Psalms may be necessary. Psalm 121:1-2 reminds me that "I lift up my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth". I am sure after this treatment our worry will be under control.

I'm thinking this can help with many of the problems we experience in life. So, this week's life lesson is: when life gives you a migraine make sure you treat the symptoms and not the numbers.

So, friend, can you think of any other ways to treat the symptoms and not the numbers?