“Excited”
couldn’t begin to describe Zena as she almost ripped into the
packing box. This had to be the absolute best gift she’d ever
received.”
With
that, Hope Tappin began to tell a story to her every Saturday group
of teen girls as they investigate all the ins and outs of texting.
Her story continued:
First
out of the box was the instruction manual that had to be thicker than
a CD case. Next, the charger and battery was taken out and placed on
her daybed beside the manual. And then there it was – still packed
in its plastic wrapper. It was beauty beyond belief. Its candy apple
red plastic jacket shouted itself to be more computer than cell
phone.
Adrenalin
exploded into every cell of Zena’s body with the news that she now
had her very own smart phone with on-board video camera, text messaging
keyboard, and GPS locater.
As
her dad followed the directions for installing the battery and
getting it on line, he couldn’t recall more arms and legs moving
since he first saw his beautiful daughter in the hospital’s “New
Infants” nursery, 15 years ago.
Zena’s
body finally quit thrashing as she held her beautiful red smart phone
in front of a mirror. With her mind still racing, she took a picture
of her reflection in the mirror and immediately phoned it to her
favorite girlfriend.
Like
the lungs of a newborn, her smart phone battery was getting a real
workout from the very start. Malcolm, Zena’s dad, began to notice
the excessive phone use by Zena. Several times he’d see her
hold it to her ear while shopping when he knew she didn’t even have
it turned on. Her father someway thought the cell phone held to her ear,
became some kind of jewelry or a status symbol.
Malcolm
discussed his concern more than once with his wife Barb, but no
decisions were made. The conclusion was that Zena’s phone addiction
didn’t seem to be breaking any laws and besides, all the rest of
her friends were doing it. It was almost like her smart phone was a
critical key; a key to acceptance by one’s peers.
Powder
and the Squealers
Zena’s
parents recently had briefly discussed with her the possibility of
Zena working as a candy striper at the nearby hospital. But now
seemed the the right time to investigate it further. Summer vacation
was about to start, and her parents definitely felt their daughter
needed some real challenges to fill her time that had been occupied
by school.
After
further arrangements were made, the daughter with the new cell phone
was assigned to the nursery ward of the hospital, which thrilled
Zena’s mom. The first week of 'hospital helper' orientation had
Zena doing more studying and note-taking than she’d done in school.
Her dedication was due to her ‘little lives are at risk by lazy
attitudes and actions’ sign she had hung near her dresser mirror.
This hospital helper in training, quickly adopted the credo: whether
patients are big or small; whether the tasks for me are big or small
– I’ll do them with my very best.
‘Her
very best’ meant that she must leave her beautiful smart phone, with
all its nuances, in her nursery ward locker; not to be
touched until she headed for home. She loved every second of every
day she spent in the nursery learning how to powder, diaper, and care
for the newbies in zillions of tiny ways. Baby care in the nursery
took on a whole new meaning the third week when she began working the
night shift, with Katey, an African born African-American with a
stubborn smile that never disappeared even when crying newbies
exceeded the noise level of most airports.
But
Zena really enjoyed the quiet nights with all the babies sound
asleep, their security blankets touching their soft puffy cheeks. How
beautiful and quiet they lay there, all the while their bodies inside
are working full tilt, creating bigger muscles and bones to be used
all their life to come?
Then
it hit Zena like a ton of bricks. These beautiful little ones are
helpless; powerless to protect or provide for themselves. They can’t
feed or dress themselves. These little beauties are, every minute, at
the mercy of whoever is watching over them; and for the moment,
that’s Zena and Katey.
Many
of Zena’s quiet moments on shift were spent staring down at the
little faces so perfectly and individually formed. She’d imagine
this one would become a powerful president of some company. That one
over there would become a laboratory researcher of muscle diseases in
humans. And that one over there… well, she might become another
Katey with her smile that prods others to keep up the good fight even
when life creates noisy overloads.
How
Could She Have Done It?
Sitting
at the supper table, Zena had a troubled look on her face, that mom
and dad took special note of. Their daughter was rather picky about
eating her food and cleaning her plate, but the adults decided she'd
explain what troubled her heart when she was ready.
“Mom.
I did something today that I will always remember, and that it will
probably cause me difficulty for the next few days.”
Zena's mom
softly said, “I'll be glad to listen, if you want me to.” "Well,
the only thing is, I left my cell phone locked in my nursery ward
locker and I can't get it until I go back in, on Monday evening.”
We'll not mention her mom's thoughts about the oversight.
For
the first few hours that evening, the teen asked herself how she'd
possibly live through a whole weekend without her candy red smart
phone with which she could communicate with the world. But when she
woke up the next morning, she ran her hand over her soft fluffy bed
covers and began thinking about those beautiful wiggly people that
could do little more than grow new muscles, cry, and give you a smile
brighter and bigger than any rainbow or sunset.
Through
the remainder of the weekend Zena kept pondering the real meaning of
'beauty.' What is it? Is beauty a gleaming new smart phone, or the
finishing touches spent with eye liner and mascara, at her little
makeup table?
The
youth pastor put the frosting on the cake as he used God's word to
show that real beauty can't be manufactured by man. And it can't be
created with eye shadow and lipstick. Pastor Dean taught his teen
church group with the Bible's explanation of beauty, by starting with
a newborn baby. The Bible used the word 'nativity' in showing all the
blessings of beauty God has given every person that breathes.
(Ezekiel 16) A few verses later, scripture explained how mankind was
putting those beautiful things on their idols and worshiping them.
Then
Zena's tears flowed when she read further and saw where idol worship
led the parents to sacrifice (incinerate) their children in their
evil worship. It was then and there, Zena decided she now knew what
real beauty was, and she wanted to honor God by faithfully gratefully
worshiping Him for all the true beauty He has blessed us with.
Hope
ended her story with the following questions, for the girls, that we
should ask ourselves also.
If
you were to make a list of beautiful things in your life, what would
be on the list? Would your parent's names be there? Would the beauty
of a new life be listed? There can be nothing better to put at the
top of my list than the beautiful promises that have come with my
Salvation that was bought, once and for all, with a blood-red Cross.
