“Wherever
the art of Medicine is loved, there is also a love of Humanity.” Hippocrates
Can
you imagine what our lives would be like without doctors and nurses, and all of
the other blessings of modern medicine? I can’t and I honestly have no desire
to. They are so much a part of our lives in Western culture, that we just take
them for granted. We forget that they haven’t always been there and that much
of the world still does not have access to modern medicine.
It is truly a privilege today to welcome
medical professionals as our honored guests to Grace Church today! We know that
in our fast paced world, too often, we simply fail to stop and say, Thank
You! We hope that our Biscuit Brunch and worship service this morning communicates
in a small way how thankful we are for each one of you and the blessing that
you are in our lives! You often see us at our weakest points and we appreciate
you!
While there are exceptions, nearly all of us
had a doctor and nurse present when we were born. It’s very probable that we
will have a doctor and nurse present when we die. Nearly all of us have made
more trips than we want to count to the Emergency Room, particularly if you’re
the parent of an highly active child J. Many of us have had to dial 911 at one time or
another for some medical emergency. Some of us have had to be taken to a medical
facility in an ambulance. Perhaps you’re here today because a doctor, or
surgeon or nurse performed some lifesaving procedure that spared your life…perhaps,
they saved the life of a loved one.
When we’re sick, we don’t give it a second
thought when we call up a doctor and ask for a prescription or make an appointment,
though they usually prefer that you come in so that they can make sure that the
prognosis of you or your child’s condition is accurate. If there’s a chronic
medical situation that seems to be hidden, there are technicians who do EKGs,
EEGs and MRIs to check your body out more thoroughly to learn what the problem
is. You don’t have to guess when you have a broken bone or even how serious the
break might be. We have X-rays that reveal exactly what is broken. Just by looking at the
images on an X-ray, a doctor is able to locate the problem and determine the
best remedy.
Just consider all of the medicines we have
available today that can completely eliminate the symptoms of many maladies and
conditions. Physicians routinely prescribe drugs for reducing fever,
alleviating an upset stomach or pain so as to increase the patient’s comfort
level. Through the elimination of those uncomfortable symptoms, a patient can
resume a normal life almost immediately after treatment. Just think of all of
the over the counter medicines and other medical supplies you can find even at
a gas station: Tylenol, Rolaids, and Band-aids in all shapes and sizes.
Just a hundred years ago, many of the diseases
that are little more than a cold today were frequently a death sentence. Even
today much of the world still lacks access to basic medical care. More than 200
million children worldwide under age 5 do not get basic health care which
results in nearly 10 million deaths annually from treatable ailments like
diarrhea and pneumonia. Antibiotics that we take for granted, that cost less
than $0.30, just aren’t available for so many in the world. Often those needing
medical care in developing countries have to walk six hours or more for any
type of medical care. Maybe we should think about that the next time that we
have to wait in a doctor’s office or Emergency Room and are tempted to complain
about having to wait.
With all of the heated political debate,
finger pointing and partisan saber rattling in recent years in America, our
medical professionals are often “collateral damage.” Some have even been hurt
by “friendly fire.” Because of the frustration with the system, our human
tendency is to vent our frustration and even anger at the caregiver who is on
the frontlines, trying to take care of us. Add to that, they’re often stretched
very thin, as is nearly every other industry in America, with attempting to serve
the same amount of patients with less staff and resources. And tragically, what
has been lost in all of the debate and rhetoric is a deep, heartfelt gratitude
for those countless committed medical professionals who are so committed to
making our lives safer, easier and healthier.
Because of them, illnesses like the flu are
usually little more than a hassle. They
have often spent years and thousands of dollars to study medicine and then are
continually educating themselves on the latest procedures and medicines,
treatments and maladies so that they can care for us in the best way possible. I
know that I’m personally so thankful for the many doctors, nurses, and support
staff who go far beyond the call, for whom it’s not just a job, they truly care
and want to make a difference in people’s lives.
Today at Grace Church, we want to stop and
say, “Thank You!” for your commitment to others! We know you don’t hear it
enough. We know that you are often seeing individuals at the lowest points of
their lives and they often forget that you are not just doing a job or earning
a pay check. So thank you, thank you, from the bottom of our hearts!
May today echo in your heart during the
coming days, weeks, and even months. May it encourage you to know that your
commitment is being noticed, that you are truly making a difference, and we
greatly appreciate you and all that you do! Thank you!!
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