Change the Things You Can

1 Samuel 10:6

I once visited a friend in a nursing home who was feeling depressed about conditions there. When I wheeled into her room, I noticed she was discouraged. I also noticed a plaque over her bed: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

I asked a few questions to help her open up. “You wouldn’t believe the rotten care I receive,” she said. “These people aren’t tending to my problems and the nurses don’t turn me properly at night.”

After quite a while, it was my turn. I suggested ideas such as talking to the nursing supervisor together, or raising money to purchase a better mattress. I suggested we write a letter to the nurse’s council, or post a notice over her bed stating clearly how my friend wanted to be turned at night. We could confront her doctor with a second opinion on her health problems. We could get her family involved. Lots of things!

But with every suggestion, my friend shook her head “no.” After hearing thirty minutes of excuses, I decided to talk straight. I motioned to the plaque and said, “You know, in the last six months you’ve been doing a great job of accepting the things you cannot change. You’ve lain in this bed and stuck it out without causing a ruckus. But now you need more work on the second part of that prayer. You, my friend, need courage to change the things you can.”

There is great honor in embracing trials, but remember that God gives them to create change.