I’m amazed and know I am blessed beyond measure! I am certain that I would have never made the connections and acquaintances that I have made… if not for Muscular Dystrophy! I would never have partnered with Kent to create “Christians with Disabilities!” It was on CWD’s Facebook page that I met a man I want to introduce to you. His name is Ed Nemeth. With his permission, actually in his own words, he told me… “It is fine to use it in your blog. I am not trying to publish it, or sell anything…other than help people with their faith.”
Here’s Ed’s story about his incredible blessing, Rebecca…
For every parent, there is no suffering as tragic as the suffering of a child. There is no hopelessness like the hopelessness of not being able to help your suffering child.
I know. I watched Rebecca be resuscitated for 27 minutes; I gave her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation 9 times before she was 3 years old. I held here when we removed her from life support so she could die in our arms, with our love. Truly there are few agonies like the agony of a parent watching their child suffer.
Conversely, there is no hope like the hope for our child to have a better life. We parents struggle for legitimate therapies, and care that will hopefully alleviate their suffering, reduce their struggles, and give them better lives.
Finally, when we have a moment to sit back on reflect, we always wonder, “Why did this happen to Rebecca? Why does she have to suffer so much?
This can be the most disconcerting question to ask. Most families believe that everything works out for the best. But, how can it be best for a child to suffer? How does that benefit anyone?
PURPOSE IN SUFFERING
(July 11, 2007)
In this world, everyone knows suffering to some extent. Whether it is a child who goes to bed hungry every night, or a wealthy industrialist dying of cancer. Suffering is endemic in our failed human existences.
Suffering is most painful when it has no purpose. Purpose enables frail humans to conquer the unconquerable. Mothers conquer the pain of child birth because they know the unique beauty and joy that results from their suffering.
Father’s heroically run into burning buildings to save their children, or loved ones without fear of suffering, and often in cases like that, without even noticing their “suffering”.
I know for me, after Rebecca was born, the incident of her birth devastated my wife and I, each of our businesses (we lost 85% of our income over night and all of our wealth).
But, we never ever looked at those moments of challenge as “suffering”.
Why? First, we had our baby, our first borne, or gift from God.
We knew she was a gift because there is no way to explain her being here except by unexplainable miracle – actually six distinct miracles!
So, suffering with purpose is an important concept to look at as we care for our injured and suffering children. We as parents have to view our familial suffering with the purpose of alleviating our children’s pain and suffering, and increasing their ability to know and experience “joy” in their challenged lives.
“No man or woman stands so tall
as when they bend over to help a child!”
But, even knowing this purpose in our own suffering does little to alleviate the deep soulful pain we experience in regards to the suffering of our children.
That is where the true question of faith is that each of us has to investigate and personally understand and accept.
We have found great purpose in Rebecca’s suffering, and that has greatly helped us endure our pain of being her parents while she suffers.
Further, Rebecca herself has determined her own purpose for her suffering, and has an exceptionally positive attitude regarding her suffering.
Rebecca “knows” that her suffering has purpose, and that she is helping other children like her, as well as many adults through her own suffering.
This faithful knowledge that she has is what we are going to discuss as we journey through the issues of Faith, Suffering and Hope”
This journey is from a devote Christian perspective, but can be beneficial and helpful to those of other faiths.
TO BE CONTINUED
So exciting… Rebecca wrote a book you can download for free, titled “God Kissed my Forehead.” I can’t wait to read it myself! Please Go to Ed and Rebecca’s page at The Cherish Foundation