It was easy a few weeks ago to send out a message showing the obvious "Lazuras effect" on one of my patients. The photos told the story, I got to be a witness to it. She was near death's door now she has a job. We call it a miracle, we rejoice.
More recently I had another patient. I've been challenged about sharing her story. In my eyes it lacks the "miracle" and the "awe effect". Her storie's just as real and significant but it could sound like a tragedy. The question in my heart is, was it a tragedy? Where were the miracles in her story? I believe they were there, they just weren't what we were praying for.
You see, her story is common. I don't understand it but I recognize it and I run into similar ones far to often. She has "the disease". Her husband isn't to be found. Her children are with her in-laws. She's alone. She's far from the hospital that she may need to visit monthly to keep "the disease" at bay. She grows increasingly weak. She lies to us-- until she trusts us. But even then, no matter how much we try to "educate" her on her disease, she either refuses to believe or just literally, doesn't care. And, like she said, "I'm tired of being sick." She doesn't want to treat it.
Finally, I had to just say to myself, all we can do is love her how she is. I want life for her. I want healing for her but when we ask how we can pray, her response strikes me hard, "Pray that Jesus will accept me."
She was tired of being sick. She didn't want to try anything. Her decision had been made. My team decided to love her through this. It was an honor to visit her as much as we could. She was still laughing when we showed up one day and she wasn't expecting us. She surprised us by saying, "What? Were you afraid you'd come back and I would have died!?" Yes, dear one, we were and we wanted to be sure you knew you were loved and cared for.
I pray Jesus did accept her last Friday, when she left us. I think He did. And, maybe there's no huge miracle blatant for you to see, but when my Love shared this Bible passage the other day, I knew I had been able to be a part of "the miracle":
After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”
13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?”
14 I answered, “Sir, you know.”
And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.15 Therefore,
“they are before the throne of God
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne
will shelter them with his presence.
16 ‘Never again will they hunger;
never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,’
nor any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne
will be their shepherd;
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’
‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’” Revelation 7:9-17
Dear friends, do you see it? Do you realize the miracle? We have the privileged to walk with people, despite their decisions, despite their circumstances or their history. We can offer the hope that one day, soon, they will not longer suffer. They will no longer cry. And there will be LIVING WATER (remember what Mvura Ya Upenhu Palliative Care means? Living Waters Palliative Care). Dear One, Jesus will accept you into heaven, solely because you've asked. Yes, my friends that's the most beautiful miracle. What a privileged to be able to share it! The miracle.
