Help a Brother Out

Part Two, see part one for today's text: Galatians 6:1-5

Restore such a one. In the Greek, the word used here for restore carries the connotation of mending nets or setting a broken bone. Either one will demonstrate the principles of restoration. Mending nets would be something the readers would be familiar with, probably more so than most of us today. It was a tedious task at best. For the net to be repaired it had to be taken out of use. Close inspection was required to find each tear great or small. New rope would have to be carefully knotted into the old. Each knot made by seasoned hands and tested for strength before moving on to the next one. The more tears in the net, the more time it would take to repair it. Unless of course other fishermen were called upon to help get the job done.

What about setting a broken bone? First off, it were my bone being set, I would want a doctor. Preferably one with some experience. Thank God I have never broken any bones, but I have observed the setting of a broken wrist. After the appropriate x-rays, pressure was applied and the hand was pulled out away from the body. The patient hollered in pain despite the medication they had received already. After a bit more pressure, the positioning of the bones was inspected, then additional x-rays were taken. Then the hand was splinted, wrapped, and a cast was applied. These were the initial and immediate steps taken to immobilize the injured wrist. Then the patient was given explicit instructions about how to care for her hand and what changes she could expect. She was also told about what signs showed complications and how to handle them. Last instructions included the limitations in using her hand and follow-up with doctor within a prescribed amount of time. She left with her wrist in a cast, her arm in a sling, and prescriptions in her hand.

Generally casts remain on the affected limb for six weeks. During that time, there are weight-bearing restrictions and limitations of use. Many times the patient will need help with the most basic of tasks, like getting dressed or feeding themselves. When a lower extremity is involved, the patient will need a walker, cane, or crutches to get around. Pain management is absolutely necessary and can be done with medication, ice, heat, support pillows, or all of them together.

I didn't realize just exactly how close these two examples paralleled restoring a faulty brother. No, I didn't say that. Oh how easily it is for us to turn things around and point out the wrongness of another.

Chew on this post while I work on the conclusion. Your comments/ideas are welcome.