How to Sweeten Bitter Pills

She had worked in the local drugstore for years. She loved her job. Everyday she filled prescriptions and dispensed the medications needed by her local community. She had gotten to know so many on a first named basis. As she worked behind the counter she would often chat with different ones while they patiently waited for their orders to be filled. She always had a smile and knew how to make everyone feel at ease. She would carefully go over any questions they had about their medications and console them with any concerns or fears they may have had. She really loved her work and felt blessed to be able to consider her job a calling.

One day she received a call from her doctor. He wanted her to come in and discuss her latest tests. The tests had been routine and she had no concerns or problems to report the last time she spoke with her doctor. She sat in the little room waiting for the doctor. After a short wait he came in. He went over her tests results. Some of her levels had tested low and he suggested medication to help get the levels back to where they needed to be. It was a minor setback. He assured her she would fully recover with the help of the medication. She looked down at what the doctor had written. She was familiar with the name of the medicine but had never had to take it herself before now. 

The next day she found herself in a different drugstore. She was now on the other side of the counter, waiting to be served. As she stood there a mix of emotions washed over her. She had not expected to feel this way and, at times, she had to fight back tears. Finally, it was her turn to be waited on. She handed her prescription to the pharmacist. He looked it over and smiled kindly at her. She waited while he filled her order. As she stood there he began to chat with her. They made casual conversation and he seemed very pleasant. They talked about their shared profession and she lightly joked about how she had never been on the other side of the counter. He smiled an understanding smile and his eyes seemed very sincere. 

Although he knew she was also a pharmacist he began to explain the medication to her. While she listened, she looked into the bottle and was surprised at how big the pills seemed to be. She gave a small gulp at the idea of having to swallow such large pills. Once he finished his instructions she went home. 

She sat down on her sofa with her medicine bottle in one hand. In another was a glass of tea. She knew she would need something to wash the pills down. She removed two from the bottle and held her head back. Taking pills had never been easy for her. She took one pill and placed in at the back of her throat so that it would travel down quickly. She took a quick drink of her tea and then made a face. These pills were horrible! They tasted so bitter. She looked at the other one with a bit more dread. She did the same routine and made the same face. Yuck! How could something relatively small taste so bitter? 

After her first dose she sunk back into her seat and a few tears began to roll down her cheeks. She felt defeated and shuddered at the thought of the continuing doses of medicine yet to come. However, her doctor was clear. She must finish the bottle completely in order to restore her levels. She thought about all the times she had dispensed this very medicine to others. She never gave any thought to what it must have been like to have to take these pills. Some were on a long-term program with their doctors and needed refill after refill of the very same thing. Others only had to take short rounds to help restore their levels. 

She sighed. After one dose she now had new insight into how hard it must be for her patrons to return to the drugstore week after week to receive theses meds. She also remembered one or two isolated incidents of this prescription being abused. She sadly recalled the times she had to refuse to fill the prescription due to abuse. 

She shook her head as if to clear her mind. She went to her bookshelf and pulled down a book. This book was to be read in conjunction with the pills her doctor had ordered. She bowed her head and gave thanks. She opened her bible and began to read. She read several stories that reminded her of God's provision. She was also reminded of His love and care for her. She knew that it rains on the just and the unjust. As she continued reading her spirit began to feel uplifted. In no time a few hours had passed and it was time for her next dose. This time as she took each pill she realized the bitterness was not as strong as before. She realized why the doctor had suggested the bible to be used. As she was reminded through God's word about His love and provision it seemed to sweeten the medicine.

She laughed to herself as she remembered a song about a spoonful of sugar helping the medicine to go down. God's word had just become her spoonful of sugar. It reminded her to be gracious and to know that any help received was a gift from the Lord. His love is so lavish and undeserved it can sometimes intimidate, especially when one like herself had been used to dispensing rather than taking the medicine she now faced.

She looked down at the pill bottle and read the label. It was written in short form. It read, "R.F.O." It stood for Receiving From Others. She had tasted pills of Joy, Happiness, Sorrow, Love, Kindness, Loneliness and others. While many had their unsavory tastes, none seemed to be so bitter as these. She was thankful for the care of her Physician. He knew what she need to restore balance to her life...to her levels. She was also thankful to the pharmacist that filled her prescrition. He was genuine, kind and understanding. Although they really didn't know each other, in those few minutes together while he worked she had learned enough about him to know he cared.

She had met other pharmacists throughout the years that were not so kind. Sometimes they would withhold a medication that the Great Physician had ordered for another. She knew this because she often received some of the patrons they had turned away. At those times she took extra measures to make sure they received the best care she could administer. She knew that if she did not then they may need further medical care to deal with the injuries suffered from an apathetic pharmacist. 

Before she retired for the night she prayed once more a prayer of thanksgiving. Not only was she thankful for the care she was currently receiving but she was thankful for her job which also happened to be her calling. Yes, these pills were bitter but they were necessary. Now that she knew just how bitter these pills were she made a mental note to recommend God's word when she next dispensed the same medication to another. She smiled as she drifted off to sleep and thought about the sweetness of His word. It certainly helped those bitter pills go down.