Stand Up and Be Counted

by Darla Noble

The king talked with them; and among them all was found no one like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. In every matter of wisdom and understanding, concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters who were in all his realm.

Daniel 1:19-20

A couple of weeks ago I received a phone call from the hospital telling me that my cousin was there in critical condition and that they needed a family member to be present and to speak with the doctors concerning her condition. I dropped what I was doing and got there as fast as I could. The next eight hours were long and tense and sadly, my sweet cousin never regained consciousness that day. But she passed away peacefully and not alone.

The nurses that cared for her throughout the day kept asking me if I was okay and if I needed anything. “No, I’m fine,” I always replied.

When the nurse came in that one final time to confirm Karen had passed, she turned to me and said, “I’m not going to ask you if you are okay. But I am going to ask you if you how you’ve handled the day like you have.” My reply: “It’s all in God’s hands and in God’s timing. I know that no matter what He has everything under control, so I just go with it.”

“Wow,” the nurse said. “I’ve never really heard it put quite like that. That’s by far the best definition of a Christian I’ve ever heard.”

I’m far from perfect, mind you, but I always do my best to be like Daniel and his friends in the fact that I want stand out and above the norm in this world for Jesus.

Pray: Jesus, Help me be like You and live life showing others just how wonderful You are. In your name I pray, amen.