Encouragement

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The Promise
© 2009
by
Stephen A. Peterson

Every living person, at various points, must deal with difficult issues in their life that they must face up to. They are issues a person must accomplish or do but fear doing. So they are delayed, growing with each passing moment. Finally, the issue becomes so daunting and out of proportion that it can no longer be ignored.

While on overseas duty in Baghdad, Iraq, Army Captain Gail Brooks, MD met seven members of Kurdish family when their 7 year old family member was brought to her suffering from what turned out to be a ruptured of the little girl’s appendix. Though she had completed medical school in Iraq, the little girl’s older sister had never performed a surgical procedure. She did not want to do the surgery fearing she would either do serious damage to her sister or worse kill her.

Following a successful surgery on her sister, the young Kurdish doctor approached Captain Brooks with a proposal—teach her surgical procedures. Initially, Captain Brooks was enthusiastic about teaching an Iraqi citizen and a fellow physician a new skill. After all, she joined the Army as a medical doctor to help the Iraqi people in any manner she could. Within hours after agreeing to work with and teach the Iraqi doctor surgery, Captain Brooks began questioning her decision. “What if she can’t understand what I’ll saying? What if I tell her the wrong thing? I’ve never taught another doctor surgery. I’ve just recently finished interning myself!”

Afraid that she would insult the young Iraqi doctor after she had given her her word, Captain Brooks cleared the way for her to assist her as medical surgeries came about. Captain Brooks her colleague with basic procedures—removing small projectiles, a bayonet, and four babies by Caesarian section. Finally, the day arrived when Captain Brooks told the Iraqi doctor: “Now the time has come for you to perform a major surgery with you being the primary surgeon. I’ve taught you everything I know. So when a person needing major surgery comes in be he or she American or Iraqi, it will be your call doctor. Good luck, doctor! You’ll do just fine!”

No sooner than Captain Books had made her statement did an Iraqi man come to the Army Medical Aid Station Hospital requiring major surgery following a bomb blast. But just as the Iraqi doctor reached for a scalpel to begin the operation, she froze. “I’m afraid to do it!” she shouted dropping the medical instrument then ran out of the operating room, ashamed.

Captain Brooks immediately yielded the surgery to another surgeon as she left the room to find her young colleague. Finding her hiding among the medical supplies, Captain Brooks put her hand in the young physician’s hand. “Come on back, doctor. You can do it.” she said. “I’ve seen what you can do. You’re a good doctor. Throw your heart into your hands and what I’ve trained to do will take over. I’ll be there with you every step of the way if you need but I don’t think so.”

Interesting but strange sounding advice? Perhaps. But the young Iraqi doctor understood. She obeyed her mentor, went back into the operating room, conquered her fear and triumph followed that surgery and many others to follow.

Throw your heart into God’s hands; believe what He had taught you in your walk with Him as well as His Word and your triumph will follow. It is His promise.

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