FACING NEW REALITIES
I have recently returned from a
visit to the States, which was a
wonderful time of rest and
catching up with family and
friends. However, this vacation was
bookended by two tragic events in
Santa Maria. I have blogged a
little about these events on my
Facebook page. The day before I
left for the States, I received a call
that one of my afternoon therapy
students, Griselda, had passed
away due to kidney failure. The
week I returned, I called the father
of a 9 month old baby with
cerebral palsy I had recently
evaluated. He said the baby was
gravely ill. The next day, I heard
that he had passed away. Working
in the States, I had never dealt
with the death of any student.
Now, within a month’s time, I was
dealing with 2 children’s deaths.
This was a new reality I didn’t
want to face. In a country where
good healthcare is not available for
the poor and superstitious beliefs
about health run rampant, the
reality of children dying would
become a new reality for me. So,
what is my reaction as a Christian
to this new reality? First and
foremost, I seek to comfort and
encourage the families who are
grieving. I use it as an opportunity
to share God’s love and tell them
that God cares and grieves with
them. I visited with both of these
families, brought them pictures of
their children that I had, and
prayed with them. Second, I think
we can encourage the parents
when possible to seek medical help
instead of going to a village healer
or just ignoring the child’s illness.
Finally, I have learned to leave it in
the hands of the great Healer and
pray that he watch over these
children and bring healing
whether in life or death. It is not a
fun or easy reality to face but one
that calls me to seek God’s will and
His answers instead of my own.
Please pray for these two families
especially as they deal with the loss
of their children.Below are pictures of the 2 children we recently lost, Pablo and Griselda.
Praying for the families and for your strength and comfort to those families.
ReplyDelete