As a therapist (in training) I strive to see each of my little patients through the best possible outcome. For every kiddo with a disability that comes through the door, I desire to see that same number walk out the door with a better quality of life or even with full ability and independence. I believe many other people fall into a vocation that strives for a similar end goal- bettering the lives of humans and improving the quality of their current state.
But what happens when treatments fail? When you have given all that is within your capacity to give but it is not enough? How do you respond when patients are going to die?
All of these questions have crossed through my mind a number of times since beginning to practice physiotherapy. I have felt deep loss and sadness on behalf of many little patients: When one of our patients lost her battle against leukemia. When we opened up the door of a medical van to receive a patient and found a teenager permanently curled into a tight ball with such dreadful contractures. When time and time again caretakers have brought their child with a severe disability for treatment once and have never since returned. Discouraging outcomes will occur no matter where we are in this world. It stinks. It really stinks.
When these sad events started weighing me down I began to pray every day for the Lord's hurting children that I encountered. I began praying for healing of their physical bodies. I prayed for their hearts to be full of joy despite the pain. i prayed for the children to feel loved whatever their circumstance. And then in my quiet time the Lord reminded me of the most important point I had neglected: that these children would believe in Him and be saved. After all, what does the best quality of life on this earth have in comparison to an inheritance in heaven?
"Therefore do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away , yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary but what is unseen is eternal." - 2 Corinthians 2:16-18
I can do all the therapy in the world with a patient and potentially bring them to complete independence but if they don't know Christ and no one shares the gospel with them, they are destined for tragedy. I must not neglect my primary calling as an ambassador for Christ:
"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God." -2 Corinthians 5:20
Let us not lose heart in this broken and hurting world. Let us cry out in prayer for His children who are hurting and lost. Let us not be timid in sharing the Gospel and praying for those who don't know Christ. Let us show the world His glory!
