Been a rough week. I learned Monday morning that a close colleague of mine, one of our physicians over medicine services, died suddenly and unexpectedly on Sunday night. He was only 48 years old, and left behind a loving wife and two teenage children. He was truly a class act, and one that was born to be a physician-compassionate, patient-focused, and very knowledgeable. A great physician and man-he treated everyone the same, from the chief of staff to the janitor. Why did he have to die so young?
Then yesterday afternoon the six year-old daughter of another co-worker suffered a stroke while in the hospital awaiting a heart transplant. She is paralyzed on her left side, though thankfully so far there is no evidence of a brain hemorrhage. She has been hospitalized since the beginning of March when a seemingly innocent virus attacked her heart, ceasing it’s function. She was on life support for several days, later weaned, and improved in general-except for the heart. For the past couple of days she’s been running a fever and vomiting, with no known cause. There is no evidence of infection, and as the fever was starting to go down, she suffered the stroke. How much more can a little girl take?
Dr. F was a good man, contributed many positives to society, was a great family man, and it’s well-known that good physicians are hard to find. So, why did God allow him to die so soon? Why was he taken from his family? Abbie comes from a loving, close-knit family and before this was a vivacious, energetic six year-old. So, why do they have to suffer in this way? It just makes no sense.
Normally I am in tune to God being in ultimate control, and that there are things that happen which seem to make no sense to us, but that it’s part of a bigger picture that can only be seen and understood at that time by God. But this week I’m questioning more than usual-not angry, just baffled. I have come across Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
I know that God is in control, and that I need to trust that is the case here. What might the reason be? I don’t know, but here is what I do know:
- Dr. F. was a Christian, and is with God now. He never suffered, which might have also seemed unfair for him to have to endure.
- Dr. F’s wife is also a doting mother, and his children won’t be orphans. They are also fortunate to have had such a wonderful father for the time they had, even if short, as some children aren’t fortunate enough to have loving parents.
- Abbie comes from a family of strong faith, and this is very visible right now to a large number of people. Who knows how many lives will be touched through their example, both Christian and non-Christian.
- Abbie also has a loving family who is by her side throughout this.
- Abbie’s parents come from employers who are compassionate and co-workers who have supported them throughout this.
- From personal experience, we learn through our struggles. I’m stronger now both mentally and spiritually as a result. Both families will come through this stronger, and perhaps able to help others facing similar challenges.
- When we see others struggling it often helps to make it clear to us that we don’t have things so bad.
Making that list actually helped me feel a bit better. I do trust that God is in control of all of this, even if it doesn’t make sense now. Please pray for both families-they will need this support most of all.
