lessons from Dr. Mikati

Dr. Mohamad Abdul Mikati is Peter's neurologist now.

When I emailed his secretary to say that another doctor had thought Peter had infantile spasms, and that I wanted to know if he could be seen sooner than his scheduled visit, Dr. Mikati had the secretary call the next day to say he would see us in a week (instead of in a month). Here we are, total strangers. He's taking my word for it that someone said my child had this problem. He hasn't seen the EEG's or anything. And he overbooks his schedule, seeing us probably over his lunch hour, in order to get Peter in sooner. It just amazes me.

And then, having done his own diagnosis, he starts Peter on treatment that requires him to come back every week or two for a checkup of how he is doing - so again, Dr. Mikati overbooks his own schedule to see Peter at times he normally doesn't see patients. Once it wasn't even his clinic day, but that was the day the EEG people could get him in, so Dr. M. came to see him anyway.

I couldn't deserve such a doctor, nor do anything to get him to care for us as he does. But he has a big heart for all his patients, apparently, and for those who show up needing help who are not already his patients. He cares. For strangers. And does it knowing he will now be taking responsibility for them as his patients, serving them often at a cost to himself.

It makes me not mind waiting for him at appointments (he usually runs late) because I know that he is probably taking time to see another patient and answer all their questions like he does with me. It makes me willing to gladly do whatever he says, because I trust him that if he is willing to sacrifice for my child, then he must truly care about him and have his good in mind.

... so the Lord made me think about Jesus. I could not deserve His caring for me, perhaps not a stranger to Him, but an enemy at least. He, at very great sacrifice to Himself, cared about me in my need. I could do nothing to get him to care for me, nothing to deserve it. I am just a needy sinner, and He has shown compassion on me. And He has done so, knowing that He would be taking responsibility for me as one of His own.

I should be completely willing to do gladly, whatever He says; to trust Him implicitly, because He sacrificed greatly for me. Therefore He must care for me and have my good in mind.

O that I would remember these things, and live them! To remember my thankfulness and undeservedness in regard to Dr. Mikati, and to therefore remember Jesus' greater love and care for me. And to trust Him completely in everything.

Thank you, Dr. Mikati, for teaching me about Jesus.