Trust in the Lord forever, For in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock. – Isaiah 26:4
Growing up in Christian schools, I heard the story of Christ’s death and resurrection many times; I could almost recite the entire passage by heart. I always attended church services and listened intently to try to learn something new. But I developed a new appreciation of that story during my first Lent as a mom.
In February of 2016, at six weeks old, my daughter Cate contracted Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and was admitted to Integris Hospital’s Pediatric ICU. Cate had IVs, pulse oximetry monitors, and multiple tubes. My heart was completely broken, as the fate of my daughter rested in the hands of the doctors and nurses caring for her. I sat in the chair next to her bed, crying and blaming myself for her sickness. I begged God to let me take her place. Why did it have to be her that was sick? Why couldn’t it be me, instead? I continually prayed for Cate to get better, and for God to give the medical team wisdom on how to care for her. After 10 days in the hospital, Cate was finally well enough to come home.
As I was sitting in the Good Friday Service, it finally occurred to me the pain and anguish that Mary, as a parent, had to go through. She had to watch her son being beaten, spit on, and eventually nailed to a cross to die. I can only wonder what Mary was thinking. Were her thoughts similar to mine, as I had to watch my daughter suffer through sickness? Did she beg to take his place?
Mary showed incredible faithfulness to God’s plan, even through the pain of watching her son die. Just as I was able to see Cate healed and make a full recovery, Mary saw her son make a full recovery through the resurrection.
Mandi Moon, Assistant Director, St. Luke’s Children’s Center
