Burned but Beautiful

Burned but Beautiful

An EMT volunteer for United Hatzalah in Israel named Yoav Shemaryahu responded to a medical emergency during the Passover.

After entering the scene of the emergency, he found a young lady named Hila Meuda in the shower fully clothed and in tears, so he asked what the problem was so he could evaluate the situation (Poch, Raphael 2020).

She was heating wax in the microwave in preparation to go out to the mall with friends. Unfortunately, after she opened the door it exploded, got on her face and arms when she opened the door, resulting in second degree burns. Her mother hurried her to the shower where Yoav found her with the wax still stuck on her skin. She was afraid that no one would ever want to be her friend again because of the scars. Yoav spent hours removing the wax from her burnt skin so burn wounds would heal correctly (Poch, Raphael 2020).

This emergency was just one of hundreds that Yoav would respond to, but it would become very memorable. A year after responding to Hila Meuda’s emergency he received an unexpected phone call from her. She thanked him for treating her burns and invited him to her wedding. He rarely hears back from anyone he helps and he was very thankful to be remembered and included in her special day (Poch, Raphael 2020). While getting burned is an ugly experience, finding time to show appreciation is beautiful.

Yeshua had a similar story about appreciation and asked a good question. “As he entered one of the villages, ten men afflicted with tzara‘at (leprosy) met him. They stood at a distance and called out, “Yeshua! Rabbi! Have pity on us!” On seeing them, he said, “Go and let the cohanim (priests) examine you!” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, as soon as he noticed that he had been healed, returned shouting praises to God, and fell on his face at Yeshua’s feet to thank him. Now he was from Shomron. Yeshua said, “Weren’t ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found coming back to give glory to God except this foreigner?” Luke 17:12-19.

Why do we tend to take others for granted and don’t bother to thank them? Yeshua seems to have hinted at the answer within His own question. The foreigner was less likely to feel entitled to the blessings of Israel’s God while the children of Israel may have been more likely to deem being blessed by Israel’s God as just something they had come to expect. If we expect good from others (and have going expectations of others’ characters is not wrong) if not careful we may come to feel that the good they do is not worthy of any significant notice because we expect it. But even if someone is known for doing good things please remember to still take the time to encourage them in right doing and thank them for it because it is the kind thing to do.

References:
Poch, Raphael-United Hatzalah-2020 “Thankful Israeli Bride Invites Hatzalah EMT Who Saved Her to Her Wedding” United with Israel
https://unitedwithisrael.org/thanhttps://unsplash.com/photos/Y3OrAn230bskful-israeli-bride-invites-hatzalah-emt-who-saved-her-to-her-wedding/

Picture originally found here

Related Articles

More From Prose

Donna Anthes

Donna Anthes was the director of nursing at Wildwood Lifestyle Center and Hospital in Wildwood,…
Donna Anthes

Sweet Lessons in Sad Places

It was fall and as the weather was getting colder with potentially stressful events…
Sweet Lessons in Sad Places

The Time I Hated God

That period of time may have lasted about a year or so, but the amount of time isn’t that…
The Time I Hated God

The Missing Yarmulke

Do not be afraid to stand for what you believe in. Never compromise your beliefs.
The Missing Yarmulke

Dorchester

On February 3, 1943 a torpedo struck the S.S. Dorchester. Chaos reigned on board as the boat…
Dorchester

Angry with the GPS

I was not having a good day. I didn’t feel very well, and I woke up around 4:00 in the morning…
Angry with the GPS

Bad Egg

When I was little I really loved living things in general and liked to keep them as pets. I had…
Bad Egg
Phil and Joan

Phil and Joan

Phil Bova was enjoying his life to the fullest. In addition to his career as an entertainer for…
Phil and Joan

Gloria

During my mission’s trip I began a journalism project at the children’s orphanage in Mexicali…
Gloria

Dear Jack

Jack took a long look at his speedometer before slowing down: 73 in a 55 mph zone.
Dear Jack

Sophie Stillman

Most American college graduates choose to start families, launch careers, and settle down into…
Sophie Stillman

Sick Logic and Biblical Wisdom

I was in a training class for a new job. One day the teacher mentioned that we had been exposed…
Sick Logic and Biblical Wisdom

East 105th Street

I grew up on East 105th Street, in Cleveland, Ohio. I went to Gracemont Elementary school. My…
East 105th Street

Is God's Law My Creed?

In the 1980’s Gerry was selling religious literature door to door.
Is God's Law My Creed?

Publish the Menu module to "offcanvas" position. Here you can publish other modules as well.
Learn More.


donation