Unanswered Prayers

World class Obstetrician of high risk pregnancies told the story that in college he had started off really poorly, partying a little too much his freshman year his grades suffered. He then went on a mission for two years and learned excellent study habits which he applied back at college and turned his grades around. He decided to go into medicine and began taking all the prerequisites. In his final year with a schedule of full of tough classes (weeder classes) his sister was diagnosed with severe mental illness. The doctors advised his parents to stay at home and he became his sister's main caregiver. That year he would spend his mornings taking his sister to class, waiting outside because she couldn't be left alone, then taking her to her next class and then back to the hospital. In the afternoons he would take his own classes. He felt he was doing all the Lord required of him and felt he would be blessed for it. So even though it was a heavy schedule his did his best. His grades dipped a little under the strain. That year also he broke up with a great girl he had been dating, but when he prayed felt that it wasn't right. That year he applied to Medical School. He received 10 rejection letters. Not a single application had been successful. He remained at BYU two more years, taking care of his sister and finishing a master's degree. He again applied to medical school and was accepted to one in St Louis MO. His sister was accepted to school there too. He felt that he had done his part taking care of her and wanted to be free to study medicine without that extra burden, but that wasn't God's will. So again they roomed together as he finished his degree. He then went on to do a residency in PHX and fellowhip in Denver. In Denver he met his current wife a fellow OB doctor who he claimed was the greatest blessing in his life. Sometime around here he received a call that his sister was missing in the mountain in UTah. He flew out to join the search and rescue team and as they searched Rock Creek Canyon for her, the Lord spoke to him and said she has come home to rest. He realized then what a blessing she had been in his life, having taught him a greater sense of empathy and patience and instilled in him the ability to look outside of himself and care about another individual.

So on this Thanksgiving day weekend, he was thanking God for unanswered prayers.

Lindsay NOv 2009 Littleton CO