I'M DOING FINE...THANK YOU!!!

I've been thinking about how many times a day I get asked this question, "How are you doing?" I always reply, "I'm fine, thank you." Well, something happened this past week that made me think real hard about my 'standard polite answer'.

This past Monday I went in for the woman's most dreaded medical test...THE MAMMOGRAM! Being like most people, I get nervous when I have this test done. I was told the usual, "Your Doctor will have the results on Wednesday and you will also get a letter from us in one week informing you of the results. So...the waiting game began after I left the medical center on Monday. I have had many mammograms done in the past and I always receive a letter about a week later telling me that it was normal. Well...on Friday, my iPhone rang and I was unable to pick up the call in time. I received the 'missed call and voice message status' on my iPhone. The lady identified herself as Jane Doe from the XYZ Internal Medicine Group. She said "Mrs. Gibson, please call me back, I need to speak with you about the results of your mammogram." Of course I returned the call immediately and was told by the answering service that the staff was out for lunch and would return in TWO HOURS! Oh no!!! I had to wait TWO HOURS???

My mind started spinning...Why did she call me? Why didn't they just send me the letter like they normally do? What if it was real bad news--I had a million things to do that day...how would I cope? TWO HOURS of total anxiety y'all!

In the meantime, my phone was ringing...personal calls and business calls. I got three calls during that time period and at sometime during all three conversations, I was asked "How are you doing today?" My answer was the same for all..."I'm fine thank you."

Isn't that how we respond even if our world might be in a big mess? Your child is in serious trouble, one of your parents is in critical condition in the hospital, you missed paying your mortgage payment, or you are a nervous wreck about something...anything.

Well, my story had a very happy ending. When I finally reached the Nurse on the phone, she explained that she was calling to inform me that my mammogram was normal! Whew! Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

So how about you? Do you tell people you are doing fine even when you might not be doing fine?