Go with the Flow
Oh precious is the flow…..”
It was June of 2005. It was my first month of working as a graduate nurse on the Progressive Care Unit(step-down unit). I experienced many “firsts” during that month. There was one particular “first” that I will never forget. One day, I received a patient from the emergency room that was being admitted for a gastro-intestinal bleed. It had been determined through an endoscopy that this patient had several bleeding stomach ulcers. The doctor had cauterized the ulcers to stop the bleeding, but that would not solve her problem completely. Her labs showed that she was also anemic and would need several blood transfusions. The patient arrived at the unit and we began the admitting process. I performed a physical assessment. She was visibly pale, weak, fearful, tired, and quiet. Her vital signs were abnormal; her heart rate was high, and her blood pressure was low all due to her current loss of blood. We made her as comfortable as possible, but there was only one thing that could relieve her symptoms.
Blood.
Finally, the lab called with the news that my patient’s blood transfusions were ready. She would be receiving two units of red blood cells during my shift. I received the first bag of blood and began the process of transfusing it. The blood and the patient were double-checked in the presence of two registered nurses. An appropriate-sized IV catheter was in place. A set of vital signs was checked again. Finally, it was time. The vibrant, red blood began to flow from the bag through the tubing, and into the patient.
After both transfusions were complete, I noticed an enormous change in the assessment of my patient. Her vitals were normal. Her coloring was no longer pale. She was at ease while resting in bed. There had been a complete change in just a matter of a 12-hour shift. And that’s when I realized how powerfully the blood had worked in her body. This blood was making her whole again.
I realized more completely in this moment, what Jesus really did for us. The flow of His blood on Calvary would completely cover the disease of sin for all mankind. A substitutionary work that we could never accomplish. I fathomed more closely the healing power of His blood as I watched my patient’s body respond to those transfusions. The blood was saving and restoring her back to health!
In 1876, Robert Lowry, a pastor and professor at Bucknell University, composed the hymn, “Nothing but the Blood of Jesus.” The first verse and refrain of this hymn reads:
What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
Oh precious is the flow,
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus~
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
His blood is comprehensive. It redeems, heals, and restores. It can withstand every texture and taint of sin. It flows with grace, mercy, and love. It covers all who put their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
Will you “go with the flow” today and remember the blood of Jesus on this Valentine’s? Romans 5:8(NLT) tells us “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” The greatest demonstration of love for all mankind was the flow of Jesus’s blood on Calvary. We are “brought near” over and over again to the Lord because of the blood of Jesus(Ephesians 2:13).
And again I sing, “Oh precious is the flow…….”.♥
Bask in His great love with me today♥
Lindsey Parks
