"Suppose for a moment that God began taking from us the many things for which we have failed to give thanks.Which of our limbs and faculties would be left?Would I still have my hands and my mind?And what about loved ones?If God were to take from me all those persons and things for which I have not given thanks, who or what would be left of me?"- Patrick Henry Reardon

"Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits…"-Psalm 68:19

I read the previous quote while visiting with my mother who is dying of cancer and who is losing many of her physical abilities on a daily basis.I was surprised to find that I had not thought a lot about losing many of the blessings that God has provided me with until I began to watch the frustration and sadness of my mother and her loss.I am sure that many of us can sympathize with loved ones who have also gone through loss of abilities and faculties but the question remains, have we changed our approach to life and the blessings that God has laid upon us?

Being in the medical field I have become accustomed to seeing persons who cannot do for themselves because of physical or mental handicap.Sometimes the handicap is temporary but many times it will forever change the persons life.One such individual was a young man in his early twenties who was dying of AIDS.I met him during a medical clinic with a visiting mission team from Massachusetts.At the time, he walked into the medical clinic although it was obvious that he was not well due to his thinness, cough and skin rash.Many of the locals in the clinic watched him with a lack of compassion that I found hard to grasp but understood it to be related to the life choices he had made.All I could think of was, who in here has not chosen sin over God at least once in life?

Thankfully, the man was seen by a very caring and compassionate nurse practitioner that I believe showed this man the love of Christ in the very way she spoke and interacted with her "patient."He went home with his medicines and I pray, a sense of God's ability to forgive and love and yes, bless, even in the midst of our sinful choices.

I did not see this man again for several months.During July of this year, a health promoter named Maria came to me about a man dying on her batey.She asked me if I could go and visit him.When I asked what was wrong with him she told me that he was dying of AIDS.Maria understood that we didn't have any medicine that we could give this man to cure him but she wanted us to at least visit and pray with him.When we entered his room, I saw a body of bones tightly covered in skin and heard very struggled breathing.The man's eyes were wide and fearful.As I sat on the side of his bed and took his very large, thin hand in mine, I wondered at where his hope lay.

I did not initially remember that he was the same man I saw months earlier in our medical clinic; that realization came on the drive home.But I saw something in his eyes begging for hope and release of his burdens.He could barely speak so we mostly sat and just held hands.I asked him if he was a Christian.He said no.I asked him if he wanted to hear about the hope in Christ.He said no.I paused not wanting to force anyone to accept God's free gift and yet knowing the man had very little time to make this decision.So, we began to talk about his pain and his suffering.He told me what was troubling him.I found it hard not to cry and weep with him over his loss.After about 10 minutes I asked him again if he wanted to know Christ.Almost immediately he said yes and began nodding his head.I asked him if he understood what I was asking and again he nodded his head.We talked about God's love for man and man's sin.We talked about Jesus' suffering and His hope.Then I asked someone to pray with him as he gave his life to Christ.

This man eventually died about a month later.When I asked his family if he truly gave his life to Christ, they said yes and he remained firm in that until the end.I spoke with him for a short time about a day before he died.His eyes had lost the fear and hopelessness I had previously seen.His only words were that he was ready for this to end.

I often wonder how much suffering each of us must go through to appreciate the blessings in our lives.How easy is it for us to misuse the health God has blessed us with or the gifts of talents and finances?Do we really appreciate them before they are gone or diminished?How often have you wished you had the chance to tell someone how much you loved him or her before they died or you never saw him or her again?Are we really good stewards of our blessings from God?

It is sad to think that I myself take health and family and finances for granted until one of them is in jeopardy.I believe I am changing for the better as God shows me His great love for continued blessing.Take time today to tell your loved ones that they are loved, to hug your kids or your spouse or your best friend.Thank God every morning that you woke up and you have another opportunity to show the love of Christ in your life.Do the things today that you keep putting off for the time when, "the end is near."Who but God knows when that time is?

We all face burdens in our lives and many of us will never understand why in this life.But God does.Trust in that.Trust in him to carry your burdens and to lead you on paths of amazing journeys.Trust His leading to do what you are frightened to do.Share the blessing God has given you today; I know you will be blessed again in return.

Love in Christ,

Kristy Engel, Medical Missionary to Dominican Republic