The Fight Against Bitterness

 

 

 

  Some years ago, a friend of mine who was a physician had charges brought against him, that I agreed, were unfair.  The entire matter could have been handled much better than it was. Eventually, the matter was settled, although he did lose a very large amount of money spent for legal fees.  He asked me to pray for him, and his request was very specific. He asked that I pray that he not become bitter. I told him that I would, but that he never would become bitter. That's just not his personality, and that he loved people and God too much to fall into such a place.  I was correct about that.  He continued his practice, and his life, still supporting people he believed were good, still leading family and students in the right way, and still being a shining light for many.  He died in his 90s.

           Now, I stand at a similar crossroad.   My son Daniel died at 12, presumably due to a sudden heart rhythm disturbance, fifteen years ago.  A year ago, my son Matthew died at 32, just after an influenza vaccine.

              Both of the professions in which I made a living have gone mad.  They are training providers quickly and the result are poorly trained practitioners with insufficient clinical who are too interventionist and show poor judgment all too often.  The COVID debacle is another issue.  Our current American government is another. Hospital systems are being taken over by accountants when physicians should still head up major clinical decision-making, and too many times, they no longer do. Changes in health insurance and its expense, and inflation generally are making life difficult for many.

           Everywhere I look the things that made life worth investing in and working for, have been degraded.  My Trust and Will planning has also been decimated by the loss of two of my sons.

           It would be easy for me to look at all that has been taken from my life and from the lives of my remaining children and young grandchildren.  Sometimes, these losses really do eclipse the many good things that have also fallen into this life.

            And so I ask you now to pray for me, and for my family.  Please pray that I continue to meet the challenges of this life and that I do not become bitter at the continuing losses. Please pray that I continue to be able to see the way forward and move in a way that inspires my friends, my readers and my family.  Thank you.  May God bless you all.