Big Stuff, Small Stuff

Mark 5:21-43

After reading about Jesus healing the sick woman and raising a dead girl, I wondered more about those he helped.  What powerful faith they and their families had!  How could they know that he was the Son of God?  He was just a poor carpenter who recently came up from Galilee with a small gang of fisherman and the like.  I marvel that these families knew who he was:  The way and the light.

I sometimes struggle in my own faith even though I have over 2000 years of "proof" about who Jesus was, and is.  But even though I have not seen his miracles in person, I am so fortunate to see his power in my everyday work.

Recently, a close patient of mine--I'll call her Faith--passed away from cancer.  She loved her present life and the time spent with her daughter.   It's no small understatement to say that it was a bad day when I told her that she had cancer and that there was no treatment for it.  Over the following weeks, I saw her in the hospital, at Hospice, and then finally at home.  Through her course of dying, Faith and I spoke of the things that she would miss here on Earth and we spoke of the things that awaited her in Heaven.  Her faith was a powerful testament of the love of Jesus.  And after each visit, I left feeling more alive than ever.  Faith, and a few other patients like her over the years, make me keenly aware of the importance of each day.  Faith particularly helped me to separate the "big stuff" from the "small stuff," to focus on my family now, and to ultimately work toward my riches in Heaven.  What a wonderful irony:  While I may have been Faith's doctor, she gave me the true "cure."

Prayer:  Lord, please help me live every day fully and gratefully for all that you have provided; and let me be a beacon for your light and message of love. Amen.

Written by Mike Ribadeneyra