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Caring Circuits |
Why?By Dr. Jack CanadyRead Psalm 139Dear Leaders Chosen by God, Perhaps a decade ago I held a tiny new born inmy arms. She was only minutes old and would soon be gone. Very quietly Isaid, "Little Victoria Iris, you won't be here long but you have broughtindescribable joy to your Mommy, Daddy, Grandma and Grandpa. Thank You Fatherfor giving this time to these ones I love." I was surprised to hear a strong "AMEN!" over myshoulder. It was Victoria's Grandpa. I had been talking to God but heand the rest of the family had listened in. After embracing her tenderly I placed her backin the arms of her brave Mother. The medical staff had warned of this; in facturged the one carrying the little one in her womb to abort. Sherefused. Her message to those people who wanted to rescue her from thepain of what was coming was, "If God just gives us a few hours with my baby we will take themand enjoy them." Though she deeply desired her daughter to live along and full life her faith in God and His hand in this did not waver. Infact it was even stronger. Only He would give her strength and healing. For a few moments my son Paul, who was theirPastor, and I had been welcomed into a sacred event few outside family get toexperience. We left so the family could have those last few momentsalone. We noticed the medical staff hovering outside. They too werewitnessing this once in a lifetime moment. As the doctor who hadurged the abortion witnessed the guileless joy of the family, he said, "Now I understand". Do you and I understand when things like thatcome down in our lives? A few days ago a handsome baby boy was born toour family in Ohio. A week later we rejoiced in the birth of a greatgrandson here. The joy of the family in Ohio was shaken when theydiscovered he has Prader-Willi Syndrome, a malady that will no doubt affect hiswhole life. Our grandbaby is perfectly healthy. How do we handle suchextremes? Frankly we wept. Even our joy over the healthy baby herewas seriously tempered by what was going on in our family in Ohio. We eventrembled a little. Will our baby be all right? Like many of you thefirst words out of our mouths were, "Why God? Why are You letting this happen?" In the quiet of the next morning I took myconfused, hurting soul to God as I opened the Bible. Turning to a familiarpassage I read these words in Psalm 139. David is praying. "For You formed my inward parts; You wove mein my mother's womb." (Did God do that for each of those babies?) "I will give thanks to You, for I amfearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are all Your works, and my soul knowsit very well." (I can see that as true of David. What about new bornbabies whose brains have not been fully developed or a baby who hasPrader-Willi Syndrome? Did God make a mistake?) I could travel much further down that dark path;many do. I stop there. The fact is I do not even gothere. Our God makes no mistakes; nor does He capriciously inflictmisery or pain on His children. "My frame was not hidden from You, when I wasmade in secret. Your eyes have seen my unformed substance, and in Yourbook were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there wasnot one of them." Someday, when the clouds clear away, and wefollowers of Christ are privileged to see things from the perspective of theGod we trust, we will exclaim, "Oh, that is why that happened. Now Iunderstand Lord. Thank You for allowing our family to be used in thatway". "For I consider that the sufferings of thispresent time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall berevealed to us," (Romans 8:18). In His love, Pastor Jack |
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