The other week a young mother still pregnant with her first baby walked into the clinic. She was full term, and in her hands she clutched a paper containing a freshly printed ultrasound. She handed over the paper and quickly made her way to CR (washroom). I scanned over the ultrasound results and my heart sunk as I read the bold letters at the bottom. "Fetal Death in Utero." The stark reality of its message made me tremble inside. I glanced over at the closed bathroom door, and I knew she was behind it concealing her tears. When she finally came out, I took her over to a bed to talk and pray with her. I fought back tears as she bravely kept back her own; it's not cultural to cry in public. "I accept!" she told me with a broken heart.
Today my friend had a patient who was immediately transported due to complications. Her baby was born, but never had the chance to take his first breath.
There are many things in life I don't understand. Why does life end for some before it even begins? Why does it even begin for some who live day to day with hardship and poverty. My heart aches for those little children begging on the busy city streets. They are not but ten years of age, yet no one is there to take care of them or ensure that they are safe. I see the blind man with his hands outstretched for money, sitting in the same spot day after day in front of the mall. I see people in the hospital dying because they cannot afford proper medical care- something we take for granted. I see countless women coming through the clinic, each having a story. They are not simply sad tales that are used in missionary presentations to briefly stir the hearts of those listening. It's the harsh reality many of these women live in, and are birthing their children into. Some women don't even return to the clinic to complete their child's birth certificate... Why would they? What is their child's future?
Yes, there are many things in life I do not understand. But there is one thing I know for certain. There is a God who is just and merciful, and who promises to answer those who call on His name.
There is hope- a future, and it's our responsibility, our privilege to spread this good news:
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed (Luke 4:18).
We cannot solve the world's problems, and make an end to evil. But we can point people to the One who will, and has already conquered sin and death. He alone makes life worth living.