From Water to Wine

I'm often saddened to see how people respond to loss of health, dependence on caregivers and grief.  Those who have no hope typically become bitter and angry at God.  Most of my hospice patients are in nursing homes.  Some resign themselves to their fate and realize they will never return to live in their earthly home.  Others fret and complain over their lot in life.

As I've noted before the Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment is an excellent book.   I'm only getting a few pages read at a time, but it's a book one must digest slowly. 

Author Jeremiah Burroughs writes regarding contentment:  "It is not so much the removing of the affliction that is upon us as the changing of the affliction, the metamorphosing of the affliction, so that it is quite turned and changed into something else."  (pg. 49)  Burroughs continues this thought with:  "God has given a Christian such power that he can turn afflictions into mercies, can turn darkness into light.  If a man had the power that Christ had, when the water pots were filled, he could by a word turn the water into wine.  If you who have nothing but water to drink had the power to turn it into wine, then you might be contented; certainly a Christian has received this power from God, to work thus miraculously.  It is the nature of grace to turn water into wine, that is, to turn the water of your affliction, into the wine of heavenly consolation."  (pg. 50) 

Inspiring words from a man of God who lived hundreds of years before my time.