Christmas Letter 2024
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Merry Christmas 2024
Dear Family and Friends. Up until college, much of my life was easy and predictable. My freshman year at University of Washington, it seemed that everything that seemed solid, reliable and certain, now was no longer that way. My Dad, even though I did not respect and honor him as I should have, I quickly learned that he was the solid rock in my family and life.My foundation and our family’s foundation suddenly and unexpectedly shaken as my Dad died at age 53. Through him I learned to care for the lowly, lonely and forgotten, hard work and integrity. My Dad was a doctor and I wanted to follow in his footsteps, not knowing what the end of the long journey would be like and what difficulties I would encounter along the way. Some of the difficulties I encountered were 110 hour work days, working 35 hours straight without sleep, living in an apartment in Chicago without heat and infested with rats. There were times when I just wanted to quit. I graduated in 1985 and entered family medicine residency in Chicago. Started working in a small clinic on the South side of Chicago and got married to my lovely wife in 1988. Coming up on 40 years as a doctor. How time flies! It is hard to believe. I really love being a doctor and I can honestly say that even though the days are long and hard, I am glad for the day and look forward to the next. I’ve been in the same office for almost 30 years, so you can say that I’ve grown old with my patients. I’ve tried to care for my patients like my Dad, with compassion, integrity and kindness. Over my 65 years, I have only been a patient twice. At 4 to get my tonsils out and about 15 years ago when I accidentally cut my leg with a chainsaw. I started to think that I am invincible, not like a teenager who doesn’t even know what is out there, but as a doctor who has seen just about everything and somehow all of the bad things that can happen to me, just haven’t and maybe won’t. That is the sin of pride in me. The Bible says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6) I had taken my health for granted, and not thanked God daily for it. I don’t believe God rewards me with “good” things when I live a life pleasing to Him and God punishes me with “bad” things when I displease HIm. I hold onto this promise from the Bible: “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28) |
