TL;DR All too often, the message is still vital to our well-being, even if we didn’t like the way it was delivered.
The doctors finally figured out the reason my hands went tingly and numb. It turned out I wasn’t just another computer guy with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, so they sent me to have an MRI.
The MRI technician took one look at it and said, “When are you seeing your doctor? No rough housing or playing football or anything athletic until you see your doctor.”
He punctuated that sentence with a deadpanned “I’m serious.”
I went to my doctor to discuss the results, and he said we either need to fuse four vertebrae in my neck or he will release me. There was no other way to remove the risk to my mobility and possibly my life.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, I was next routed to the financial office where they had already run my insurance and knew what my share was going to be. They wanted to know how I was going to take care of my portion and if I would like to make a down payment now. I said, “I’ll probably write a check, but why are you discussing this with me when I am still reeling from what the doctor told me? Not only that, I haven’t even agreed to the surgery.”
I couldn’t believe how cold they were. Those medical professionals needed a better and more loving attitude, that’s for sure.
After studying and reviewing the facts, I realized they were all correct:
I was in danger.
It was going to cost something.
It was the only way to be healed.
I wonder how many times have I missed out on something beneficial because I didn’t like the way the message was delivered …