God is good.

As with most physicians, I sometimes wonder if I am really doing anybody any real good. Am I helping people or am I just going to work to bring home a paycheck just like everybody else? Am I practicing a profession dedicated to relieving suffering and pain or am I just putting in my time until I am eventually forced into retirement?

Every once in a while these thoughts come crashing down upon me and it forces me to rethink my purpose for working. I am sure it happens to each of you too.

Yesterday, as I drove my automobile to its dedicated parking space at the office, I asked myself that very same question. In fact, I pushed the envelope a little further and asked God to allow me to be a special encouragement to someone who needed encouragement the most. I was especially pleased and surprised by His answer.

I spent my day seeing a few less people than I usually do. Perhaps people just weren’t as sick as they usually are or maybe they were just too busy to make an appointment that day, but it resulted in me having just a little more time to visit each patient on my usually very busy schedule.

I had no less than 8 people make a special effort to tell me how much they appreciated my work as a physician on their behalf. WOW! I received special hugs and “thank you”s that made my day especially rewarding. I was truly overwhelmed by the outflowing of love that each of these people expressed.

I guess God really knew who needed the special encouragement that day. Phil 4:19-20 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.