Inspiration from a 12 year old ‘Saint’
My wife works in pediatric oncology. Day in and day out she works with children who have cancer and all the complications that come with that horrible disease. The amazing thing is that, instead of being depressed, she is inspired by these children and finds great joy in working with them. Sometimes it’s very hard to hear about her work day. And some days I’m amazed at what happens.
Recently there was one particular child who became very special to many of the hospital staff. He was wise, loving and very very sick. He was always telling my wife, “you worry too much”. And he was usually the one comforting his family about his condition. A gem of a person and an inspiration to many - but he was not destined to live long.
I consider myself a “recovering Southern Baptist” in that I was raised in a fire and brimstone style church in rural West Tennessee. So I have little acceptance of an afterlife where roads are paved with gold and the lion lies with the lamb. Personally, dirt is easier on the feet and lions would be ridiculous vegetarians. But I was inspired by what this child said and “saw” as he left this life.
Just before he died, he was speaking with his grandmother and said, “I’m dying grandma. But it’s ok. My friends are here.” To which the grandmother replied, “What friends? Your friends from school or the kids from the hospital?”
“No grandma, I’m talking about my new friends - and they’re so beautiful!” And then he died.
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