Unfair
Tonight a little boy name Theo went to be with Jesus. You can read his story here. I’ve never met this family, I only know them as a friend of a friend and through their blog but I’ve grown fond of their family and their story. Theo is from Africa and was adopted by his family at about 9 months old. When they arrived back in the states they discovered that their little man was sick, and long story short he’s been fighting ever since. A bone marrow transplant caused graft vs host and while I certainly have no idea the cause of his passing, I bring this up because the same time that I’ve been following this story there’s a similar one with another little girl in Texas, except that so far she’s doing very well.
It’s not fair.
Don’t get me wrong, I wish no ill will on any person or child. I only mean that why with these two children, almost the same age both receiving transplants, both with faithful parents would the outcomes be so very different? Why?
It’s not fair.
Only those closest to me know of my “religious side” if you will. Growing up Catholic with Yankee parents we never were taught to “witness” or frankly speak a lot about our faith at all. In fact, it wasn’t until I was in Young Life during high school that I really learned about any of this. It’s only been recently that I’ve even let it be “known”. Perhaps I’m afraid of judgement as well. How’s that for letting the rooster crow?
Anyway, my faith while often private has always been important to me but certainly so as I’ve grown older. The other day after devotional I was thinking to myself having faith and praising God is so easy when things are good, but how do you keep your same gusto when life doesn’t go as you wish?
Tonight that same question is burning in my heart. How is it fair that this little boy suffered so much? That his family is hurting? That his sibiling’s who are so young that I don’t know if they’ll really ever understand will be marked by this. Will they suffer in more ways than just the loss of their brother?
Or my friends who are or have suffered from infertility? How is that fair? Families that are or will make the most amazing parents and yet they have such struggles to go through. Why would God make these individuals so prime to be parents and then just keep it out of arms reach?
Or those who suffer in any way. Illness, heartache, loss, depression….It’s easy to say “that’s God’s plan” when you don’t get the job that would put you closer to family or you break up with the boyfriend who never really treated you better than the dirt on his shoe. But this? This stuff is so hard for me to comprehend.
And yet….as unfair as it is, I have no doubt that Raegan and Mike and their family will continue believing in a loving God. Because their faith is that strong. I wonder, is mine?
