--A Matter of Perspective~~

--BOBBY: When You Can't Be Strong for Yourself~~

--AS a physician involved in the care of children I am very fortunate to witness daily the wondrous power, strength and faith of the most physically fragile among us. One such event involves Bobby, a five-year-old child who had been diagnosed with leukemia at age four. Bobby's cancer was in remission--he was free of disease--and he had come to the hospital for a series of diagnostic tests that were a routine part of his treatment plan. Bobby had bright blue eyes and a shy smile that at first glance didn't reveal the wisdom gained through his one-year struggle against cancer.

Bobby had lost all of his hair secondary to his regular chemotherapy treatment. The chemotherapy often left him nauseous and unable to eat. Bobby had experienced numerous painful procedures and treatments and this day was to be no exception. Bobby was undergoing a procedure that was indeed painful. He had been through it before, so he knew what to expect. I explained to him what we were going to do, and why, and the importance of him remaining very still. Bobby assured me that he would be very still, and he promised the nurses and technologist in attendance would not need to hold him down.

As we began, Bobby asked, "Dr. Brown, would it be okay if I say the Twenty-third Psalm while you stick me?"
"Of course, that would be fine," I said, and we began.

Bobby recited beautifully, no tears, no movements. The procedure went well. Bobby, in his young wisdom, reassured me, "Dr. Brown, that really didn't hurt much." We knew it had. Then Bobby caught me by surprise when he asked, "Dr. Brown, do you know the Twenty-third Psalm?"
"Well, sure," I answered him.

"Can you recite it like me?" he asked, a bit doubtfully.
"Well, I don't know. I think so," I said, realizing that I was going out on a limb.

"Let's hear you," said Bobby.
So I proceeded to stumble through it. My performance was quite shabby in comparison to Bobby's, and I didn't have a needle sticking in my back. I noticed all the other white-coated professionals in the room were trying to disappear as they feared being called on next, a prospect more frightening than being asked to perform at grand rounds.

-Then beautiful and bald Bobby said to all of us, "You know, you really should learn the Twenty-third Psalm by heart. Because when you say it out loud, God hears you and he lets you know inside your heart that he is being strong for you when you can't be strong for yourself."

"Allow the little children come unto me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."(Matthew 19:14) ~~

-[Chicken Soup for the Christian Soul~]