As human beings, we tend to be hot-headed at times and see our own needs more urgently than we see the needs of others. I think especially in situations where we’re stressed and trying to take care of our families, we are especially prone to being impatient. When our children are sick, we want help right then and anything that stands in the way of whatever care they need seems less important to us. Especially when it comes to healthcare, having to wait for doctors or nurses to see about us or our loved ones can be frustrating. However, it’s important to remember that there are things going on behind that scenes that we may be unaware of. Perhaps the doctor was needed more urgently elsewhere, or maybe it’s something like you’ll read in the fictional story below.
A doctor entered the hospital in hurry after being called in for an urgent surgery. He answered the call as soon as possible, changed his clothes and went directly to the surgery block. He found the boy’s father pacing in the hall waiting for the doctor.
On seeing him, the father yelled, “Why did you take all this time to come? Don’t you know that my son’s life is in danger? Don’t you have any sense of responsibility?”
The doctor smiled and said, “I am sorry, I wasn’t in the hospital and I came as fast as I could after receiving the call and now, I wish you’d calm down so that I can do my work.”
“Calm down?! What if your son was in this room right now, would you calm down? If your own son dies while waiting for the doctor than what would you do??” said the father angrily.
The doctor smiled again and replied, “We will do our best by God’s grace and you should also pray for your son’s healthy life.”
“Giving advice when we’re not concerned is so easy” murmured the father.
The surgery took some hours after which the doctor went out happy, “Thank goodness! your son is saved!” And without waiting for the father’s reply he carried on his way running by saying, “If you have any questions, ask the nurse”.
“Why is he so arrogant? He couldn’t wait some minutes so that I ask about my son’s state,” commented the father when seeing the nurse minutes after the doctor left. The nurse answered, tears coming down her face, “His son died yesterday in a road accident, he was at the burial when we called him for your son’s surgery. And now that he saved your son’s life, he left running to finish his son’s burial.”
Never judge anyone because you never know how their life is and what they’re going through.
