Different Stories

This article is about 2 people that shared 1 similarity and that was they both faced life threatening health issues if not properly treated; outside of that fact their lives could not been more different.
The first person I wish to tell you about is my wife Cari, who along with our family has been visiting Thailand and Laos for the past 4 weeks. On Sunday the 2nd of March Cari confided in me that her right calf was causing her a great deal of pain and that it had steadily gotten worse over the past 48 hours. After a quick discussion we decided to visit a hospital within walking distance of our guesthouse in downtown Bangkok. Within 3 hours the doctors had already performed their first test on Cari which confirmed her suspicion that it was a blood clot. She was instantly admitted and has been cared for with great results. She is to expect a full recovery and will be released God willing this Saturday. Without a doubt a community of doctors and prayer warriors have come to the aid of my wife, and we as a family are truly grateful.
Well the second person I wish to write about is a 1 year old boy named Lem from a small village in Southern Laos. Lem was found by World Concern staff about a week ago on the floor of his home surrounded by family mourning his upcoming death. Lem was losing the battle against malaria. The story does not end or start there. A week prior to this Lem was in a medical clinic getting some basic treatment that seemed to be making a difference. With the hope of Lem's recovery and the fear of a $10 medical bill Lem's parents sneaked their boy out of the clinic and back home. Unfortunately Lem relapsed without the necessary treatment and 2 days after the World Concern staff rushed Lem back to the hospital for care he passed away.
The reason I tell these two stories side by side is to bring some clarity to our world of the have's and have not's. I realize that Cari will be fine because of our finacial resources and an education that enabled her to diagnose a problem and know how to get help versus Lem's family that had no understanding about how their health care system worked (the government would have written the cost of care off) nor the means to raise $10 bucks. In 2 Corinthians 8:13-15 Paul talks about giving until there is equality and then in 1 John 3:16-18 it is written that we are to die for our brothers and give away our material possessions to those we see in need. These passages talk of what it means to follow Jesus and live a sacrificial life. I pray that Lem draws me one step closer to a life that reflects that of my Savior.