“Our faith serves as an anchor for the soul; firm and
secure." ~ Hebrews 6:19
Scott’s tremors started during a
typical Michigan winter.
Following a routine exam, their pediatrician referred him to
a neurosurgeon. When the specialist
agreed to meet with them sooner than normal, Karen sensed that something
serious was affecting her active 4-year-old child.
Within days, Scott’s trembling intensified. Karen and Doug watched helplessly while their
sweet boy’s energy faded from a body betraying him.
An MRI scan of Scott’s brain confirmed the presence of a
tumor. Surgery was necessary in order to
remove what everyone hoped was benign.
After eight hours, the operation finally ended. The neurosurgeon explained that they removed only
half of the tumor. “It’s highly
aggressive, rare and malignant,” he added. “Options are limited because
of Scott’s age. An experimental
treatment is available, but chances of surviving the "grueling" treatment
are pretty low. The only other alternative
is to return home and receive hospice care.”
Shock turned to sadness; then emptiness.
The couple prayed and consulted experts before making the
decision to care for their dying son at home.
In the final weeks of his life, thoughts turned toward heaven.
For Karen, there was a moment
when Scott suffered so much pain, she prayed that God would just take him; ‘Don’t
let him suffer anymore.’ Then she
wondered ‘What if he arrives in heaven and doesn’t know Jesus?’ Such silly thoughts go through your mind.
Karen prayed at Scott’s bedside,
pouring out her heart to Jesus when a vision emerged. Scott was with a group of people when he
turned and saw Jesus smiling directly at him.
His face lit up with gratitude
as he ran into Jesus’ open arms. The
message seemed clear: ‘Scott will know Me because he’ll recognize the love you
gave him when he was yours. He’ll feel
that love here too.’ From that moment
Karen felt at peace conceding her child’s transition to eternity.
The next morning, as Scott sat on his Dad’s lap, he relaxed
and took his final breath. Doug knew his
son had gone home to be with the Lord.
He called the office to pass on the news.
“I’m so sorry,” the doctor replied. “In all my years, I don’t know why God takes
children so young and so innocent.”
Doug’s reply came quickly and without remorse. “God didn’t take him, the tumor did. God was there to accept him.”
It was incredibly liberating for Doug to know also, that when
he witnessed his son suffer in pain and death, he knew with clarity that ‘this was not from God'. It meant he could
maintain a passionate faith despite such terrible loss. And that if we choose to wrestle today with
God’s role in suffering, our faith is better prepared for tomorrow’s pain.
Dear Lord, the One who holds me up, the One
that loves me even though I’m undeserving. You are good. Help me remember that on the hardest days too.
Amen
