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Salt + Sparrow

Universal Blood Donor
Spiritual Growth

Our Redeemer: A Universal Blood Donor

September 23, 2022

There are few things in this world I hate as much as giving blood.

My first experience, years ago, as a young and unassuming freshman in high school, was one that has stood out to me (and caused fear and panic of a repeat experience) ever since.

The nurse harshly stuck the needle in my arm (thank goodness for ‘good veins’). I did not know enough NOT to look down at the needle sticking out of my arm. One look was all it took. I immediately blacked out, slumped over, and nearly pulled the needle out of my left arm.

I awoke to the nurse berating me for moving my arm, which could have caused the needle to break. Of course, I was not very humbled by her harsh lashing out, since I had passed out cold, and really had no way of controlling the movements of my arm…

In years since, I have learned how to handle just a small stick and a vial (two at the most) of bloodletting. I now know not to look anywhere near the needle, or my arm. I know to deep-breathe my way toward my happy place and am always thankful for a colorful poster or thought-provoking piece of wall art in which to distract me for the few moments the technician steals my life-giving liquid substance.

This morning, I had to provide a panel of labs for an annual physical I have later this week. Apparently, my doctor wanted to measure more closely than in the past because I seriously thought the technician was on a journey to bleed me completely dry. She stuck the needle in my arm and took one vial…… two…. three….FOUR….I lost count after that because I started feeling queasy.

Praying desperately for the torture to end, I took one long breath and felt her apply sweet pressure on my vein with that welcome cotton ball I find so refreshing, signifying the end to the brutal vein assault.

Of course, then I started feeling the familiar sweat prickling my hairline, and the nauseous feeling overtaking my body. I told her I felt dizzy, and she immediately provided a small hand-held fan to set directly in front of my face. I put my head down on the arm rest and happened to look up to see her staring straight at me as if I was a curious circus animal on full display.

That made it even worse!

I finally managed to regain my composure and stand up, giving myself a moment to find balance, before walking out of the examination room.

As I drove from the familiar lab to my office, I thought how unique the substance of blood is.

Each person’s blood is like a calling card, displaying so many various pieces of information, signifying their unique chemical and physical make-up. We can learn so much about our body by simply studying the ways in which our blood communicates.

woman with bandages and flowers on arms with text overlay

I know that my blood happens to be a universal donor, yet is quite a rare version, which holds a distinguishing RH factor.

I know one son shares my unique blood type, and the other son shares his dad’s unique blood type. Many years ago, my second-born son could have faced a grave life-altering uncertainty for a healthy birth, given that RH factor that now only requires a simple shot after birth, in order to avoid any devastating life-threatening experiences.

I know blood donors save lives. Those requiring transfusions are indebted to the many who routinely offer their blood in hopes of securing a stranger’s (or friend’s) hope for a happy and healthy life.

Is it any wonder there are so many popular TV shows, movies, books, and songs written about vampires who crave the deliciously red life-giving substance? With one mere drop igniting a storm of unrivaled passion for more…..

Our Redeemer: A Universal Blood Donor

I think of the blood that Jesus shed. That red and powerful substance. I wonder what His blood type was?

Did he have regular ‘human’ blood? I assume so…. yet His blood held within its confines the very power to cover the immeasurable sins of all humankind.

That is some epic blood.

The greatest transfusion ever known to man: Jesus’ pouring out of blood for the whole of humanity. Only this transfusion was not merely physical, but spiritual in nature.

Blood. The one substance that ties us all together. You can answer a lot of physical questions by studying a person’s blood type, but you cannot tell what type of person they actually are: good, bad, evil, ugly, beautiful, caring, sharing, rude, depraved, Christian, atheist, racist, Republican, Democrat, the list is endless.

We all contain a similar substance. Yet, we each have our own unique brand of that substance. It does nothing to define the amount of love, happiness, and hope we choose to exhibit to the world beyond our front door.

If we are all created the same, with the same life-giving substance coursing through our veins, do we not have more in common than mere surface opinions and deeply held beliefs? And if we are related in such a way, should we not try to adopt a love for each other as brothers and sisters, sharing the same earthly home, riding the same emotional roller coaster of this very human life?

It has been said that ‘blood is thicker than water’.

I believe the universal symbol of a life well-lived is a person’s ability to love, provide hope, encouragement, and help in times of need.

No matter what your individual blood type, your heart holds the key to a life of freedom purchased by the blood of a Redeemer, or a life of bitter imprisonment, made by selfish decisions, veiled hatred, and a prideful air.

The choice is yours.

Universal Blood Donor/Receiver….or victim of selfish pride, every day suffering the death-inducing ravages of the need for a life-saving blood transfusion, which just so happens to be readily available to all.

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Manndi Wilkins

Manndi Maphies DeBoef works at the UMKC School of Pharmacy and as a freelance writer in her spare time. Her greatest passion is being a boy mom to her two rambunctious, creative, endearing sons, William, age 11 and Waylan, nearly 9. Her sons never fail to provide daily entertainment, which inspires many of her writings. She also loves to write about everything from being a single mom and dating after divorce to finding love later in life, the devastation of miscarriage, the loss of a loved one and starting over. Her pieces are lovingly filled with inspiration, encouragement and always a touch of humor. “Live a life others wish to read about.”

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The Comments

  • Stacey Pardoe
    October 1, 2022

    Thanks so much for sharing this powerful message! This was a fresh word of inspiration for me today!

    Reply

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Welcome to Salt + Sparrow, a place where we learn about Jesus, the Bible, and find big faith in small things.

Amen 🙏🏻 @hertrueworth #faithquotes #christ Amen 🙏🏻 @hertrueworth 

#faithquotes #christianmoms #truth #blessed #relationshipwithgod #prayer #christianmomma #christianlifestyle #christianity #faithblogger #christianmother #faithinmotion #faithblog #christianliving #christians #momsoffaith #biblestudy #jesusalways #faith #bibleverse #pray
Every single person you meet was created by, and l Every single person you meet was created by, and loved by God. 

Even the ones who have hurt you. 

Next time you’re tempted to act out in anger, or envy, or hurt.. stop for a moment and think.. how would Jesus behave in this situation? 

Learning to respond to others for who they are rather than what they’ve done… or the emotion their actions have triggered in you, will bring you peace and freedom. 

💛
.
.
.
.
.
#faithblogger #christianblogger #christianwomen #christianlifestyle
I was recently gifted the book, Grit Don’t Quit: I was recently gifted the book, Grit Don’t Quit: Developing Resilience and Faith When Giving Up Isn’t an Option, by Bianca Juarez Olthoff. And it couldn’t have come into my life at a better time.

I think we’ve all gone through times in our life when failure has threatened to keep us down. When getting back up after yet another fall feels seemingly impossible.

And I hate to break it to you, but we will all face failure at some point in our lives. Sometimes repeatedly. But the really amazing thing about failure is that it give us options:

We can either let failure destroy our confidence and our faith and keep us from living up to our full potential.

Or we call view failure as another chance.

Embracing failure is a concept that may be difficult to adopt at first, but when we can view failure as a learning opportunity and quickly get back up on our feet, we win. It’s also a chance to turn to God and say hey.. here’s my weakness. And it’s only through our weaknesses that we can turn to God and find His strength.

So.. are you going to change the way you view failure? Or are you going to let it hold you back?

@biancaolthoff 

I'll link a giveaway for this book in stories so go check it out there!

#gritdontquit #gritdontquitbook #bookstagram #grit #christianbooks
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

"This verse isn’t promising that bad things won’t happen. It simply reminds us nothing can touch us when we live in Christ Jesus. We might experience loss and hardship, but our ultimate destination is heavenly perfection. 

So today, if you are living consumed with fear, practice surrender.

Take a deep breath and know that no matter what, you are loved and you will be ok.

God is Big Enough to hold our biggest hurts and make them beautiful." 

@mrsheidivegh 

#christianmomma #christians #christianlifestyle #faithblogger #christianmother #faithblog #faithquotes #relationshipwithgod #faithinmotion #prayer #christianliving #christianmoms #momsoffaith #truth #christianity #blessed
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About

Amen 🙏🏻 @hertrueworth #faithquotes #christ Amen 🙏🏻 @hertrueworth 

#faithquotes #christianmoms #truth #blessed #relationshipwithgod #prayer #christianmomma #christianlifestyle #christianity #faithblogger #christianmother #faithinmotion #faithblog #christianliving #christians #momsoffaith #biblestudy #jesusalways #faith #bibleverse #pray
Every single person you meet was created by, and l Every single person you meet was created by, and loved by God. 

Even the ones who have hurt you. 

Next time you’re tempted to act out in anger, or envy, or hurt.. stop for a moment and think.. how would Jesus behave in this situation? 

Learning to respond to others for who they are rather than what they’ve done… or the emotion their actions have triggered in you, will bring you peace and freedom. 

💛
.
.
.
.
.
#faithblogger #christianblogger #christianwomen #christianlifestyle
I was recently gifted the book, Grit Don’t Quit: I was recently gifted the book, Grit Don’t Quit: Developing Resilience and Faith When Giving Up Isn’t an Option, by Bianca Juarez Olthoff. And it couldn’t have come into my life at a better time.

I think we’ve all gone through times in our life when failure has threatened to keep us down. When getting back up after yet another fall feels seemingly impossible.

And I hate to break it to you, but we will all face failure at some point in our lives. Sometimes repeatedly. But the really amazing thing about failure is that it give us options:

We can either let failure destroy our confidence and our faith and keep us from living up to our full potential.

Or we call view failure as another chance.

Embracing failure is a concept that may be difficult to adopt at first, but when we can view failure as a learning opportunity and quickly get back up on our feet, we win. It’s also a chance to turn to God and say hey.. here’s my weakness. And it’s only through our weaknesses that we can turn to God and find His strength.

So.. are you going to change the way you view failure? Or are you going to let it hold you back?

@biancaolthoff 

I'll link a giveaway for this book in stories so go check it out there!

#gritdontquit #gritdontquitbook #bookstagram #grit #christianbooks
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

"This verse isn’t promising that bad things won’t happen. It simply reminds us nothing can touch us when we live in Christ Jesus. We might experience loss and hardship, but our ultimate destination is heavenly perfection. 

So today, if you are living consumed with fear, practice surrender.

Take a deep breath and know that no matter what, you are loved and you will be ok.

God is Big Enough to hold our biggest hurts and make them beautiful." 

@mrsheidivegh 

#christianmomma #christians #christianlifestyle #faithblogger #christianmother #faithblog #faithquotes #relationshipwithgod #faithinmotion #prayer #christianliving #christianmoms #momsoffaith #truth #christianity #blessed
God had already been speaking to me for some time God had already been speaking to me for some time about how my desire to control the details and direction of my life was getting in the way of my trust in Him and my submission to Him.

The fear of not being in control had stolen my contentment, joy, and peace. So many opportunities and relationships had been strangled or suffocated due to the struggle for control.

The Lord had been directing me to practice putting my full trust in Him.

While I used to spend much of my energy worrying and controlling, God began teaching me to put all of that effort into trusting Him instead.

Friends, as I look back over my life, I cannot think of one time that I regret surrendering to God and yielding control to Him. Was it difficult and painful? Indeed it was.

Did I take it back untold times, having to surrender again and again? You bet.

But this I’ve discovered: as we lean into our powerlessness and His sovereignty, we experience new levels of freedom and joy.

Once upon a time, I would have thought that losing control was the worst thing that could happen to me. Now I know that releasing it was what I needed most.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, help me to yield this new area of control to you– I surrender myself and all of my brokenness. Guide me and remind me each day to put my full effort into trusting You.

@jamiedesilvia 

Full post on saltsparrow.com

 #pray #faith #prayer #bibleverse #biblestudy #bibleversedaily #faithinmotion #faithblogger #christianmomma #jesusalways #faithblog #faithquotes #christianmoms #christianmother #christianlife #christianlifestyle #momsoffaith #christianliving #relationshipwithgod #christians #faithbased #momswhoreadthebible
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