Romans 5:3-5 (ESV)
3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings,
knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character,
and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's
love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given
to us.
David, a 2-year old with leukemia, was taken by his
mother, Deborah, to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, to see Dr. John
Truman who specializes in treating children with cancer and various blood
diseases. Dr. Truman's prognosis was devastating: "He has a 50-50
chance." The countless clinic visits, the blood tests, the intravenous
drugs, the fear and pain--the mother's ordeal can be almost as bad as the
child's because she must stand by, unable to bear the pain herself. David never
cried in the waiting room, and although his friends in the clinic had to hurt
him and stick needles in him, he hustled in ahead of his mother with a smile,
sure of the welcome he always got. When he was three, David had to have a
spinal tap--a painful procedure at any age. It was explained to him that,
because he was sick, Dr. Truman had to do something to make him better.
"If it hurts, remember it's because he loves you," Deborah said. The
procedure was horrendous. It took three nurses to hold David still, while he
yelled and sobbed and struggled. When it was almost over, the tiny boy, soaked
in sweat and tears, looked up at the doctor and gasped, "Thank you, Dr.
Tooman, for my hurting."
Dear Lord, thank You for the times we hurt. Thank You
that You use those times to help us grow. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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