I knew it. The paramedics knew it. The doctors and nurses knew it. The only one who didn’t know it was the father of the nine-year-old who suffered a devastating mortal head injury at home an hour earlier. But the child was not going to survive. As I sat with the father in a private room at the hospital while a dozen hospital personnel worked on the child, I recalled how many times over the past 20 years I’ve sat in this same room with family members of the dead or dying. All too familiar. Way too familiar.
When the doctor came in to inform the parent that they were able to get a heartbeat the father went from the state of complete despair, on the edge of succumbing to shock, to one of great relief and hope. Though the doctor warned him of the dire situation the boy was in, it was as though the father did not hear that part. Understandably. Then the father said it. He said the thing that got to me. “God won’t let my boy die.” My heart sank as I said to myself, “Oh, yes he will. God will not be saving your boy today.” I hated to think that to myself. But I did. Oh, how I wished God would save the child. I was being a realist, not a doubter of God.
I don’t know what you might believe about miracles but one thing I am pretty sure is true is that there are no recorded “God miracles” where dismembered body parts miraculously reappear or reattach themselves to bodies. Open skull fractures spilling out brain matter do not come back together as was such the case here. It was only a matter of time. Time was possibly the only miracle to occur here. Time for a mother to return from a business trip across the country to bid her son farewell the next day. I guess you might call that a miracle, which is exactly what happened. The child passed away after mom was able to be at her child’s bedside the next day.
We’ve all heard others say or perhaps have said it ourselves, “God won’t allow _________.” (fill in the blank). God won’t allow something terrible to happen. But we all know terrible things happen to the just, the unjust…the believer, the unbeliever. You can pray for a miracle. We all do. I always will. Is there any denying that miracles of some kind have and do happen? Though, most of us only hear about them second hand either through bible stories, testimonies or some kind of word of mouth. No doubt some of you have had, after prayer, a reversal of a rash, illness, condition, ailment, sickness or such and can attest to it being a miracle. I respect that. Probably, more of you have had a hope, desire or request from God come true and attribute it as a miracle. God's answer to prayer. Let it be. Why not? And thank God!
But for the most part life takes its course. I don't mean to sound like a fatalist. Sorry. It is a miracle for sure that we exist on this planet in a lifeless universe! Life…living is a miracle if you ask me. If God can work in a human heart to provide meaning, purpose and especially a capacity to be selfless and to love others, well I’d call that a miracle of life. When anything good comes about in our lives, be it by hard work, happenstance or accompanied by prayer, of course give thanks to God. Just being a thankful person is a sort of a miracle of the heart. I know that is true for my heart which can tend to be rather aloof, often absent, even callous or cynical at times. When I find I look to God to overcome what is contrary to love, I might as well consider that a miraculous thing. I look for that miracle every day! That’s where the true miracles of life most occur…in the human heart. Of course, right?
I might consider it a miracle if this father and mother would, over time, be able to live their lives with a greater capacity to love because of the trial of tremendous unspeakable loss and grief thrust upon them. If they can find a deeper relationship with our mysterious God, who is already reaching out to them (always has, always will) then there, if you ask me, is the miracle in this story. Then the way of Jesus is the way.
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