A Parent's Care

Half way through my first month of residency, and I am greatly enjoying my inpatient my pediatrics rotation. It has been a wonderful time of taking care of a wide array of patients - the Mexican immigrant's child next to an Amish boy next to a Laotian newborn. The Amish are particularly interesting as they do not bring in their child until well past the appropriate time. The home remedies are usually first tried, and then only as a last resort do they seek out a physician's help. One child had a Lyme disease-related torticollis, otherwise known as wryneck, that had the little girl with a crooked neck for two weeks. Another suffering patient had a bad case of e.coli 0157:H7 causing bloody diarrhea. And yet another with ITP (idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura) requiring on-going medical care.

With each of these diverse families exists a common feature to each: they all care deeply for their child. We are treating the parents as much as the patient. In each child, I see a glimpse of the great care that our heavenly Father feels and gives to us. Pains and trials, failures and defeats - His love is a great mountain that cannot be moved. The genuine care and concern that each of these pediatric patients receives, how much more can we know the safety that is in His good care. He is a good Father.

Lord, help me to know your fatherly care this week. Help me to see your great love and the safety of that care.