Douglas Maurer, 15, of Creve Coeur , Missouri , had been feeling badly for several days. His temperature was ranging between 103 and 105 degrees, and he was suffering from severe flu-like symptoms. Finally, his mother took him to the hospital in St. Louis . Douglas Maurer was diagnosed as having leukemia. The doctors told him in frank terms about his disease. They said that for the next three years, he would have to undergo chemotherapy. They didn’t sugarcoat the side effects. They told Douglas he would go bald and that his body would most likely bloat. Upon learning this, he went into a deep depression.

His aunt called a floral shop to send Douglas an arrangement of flowers. She told the clerk that it was for her teenage nephew who has leukemia. When the flowers arrived at the hospital, they were beautiful. Douglas read the card from his aunt. Then he saw a second card. It said:

“Douglas – I took your order. I work at Brix florist. I had leukemia when I was 7 years old. I’m 22 years old now. Good luck! My heart goes out to you. Sincerely, Laura Bradley.”

His face lit up. His whole outlook changed. It’s remarkable! Douglas Maurer was in a hospital filled with millions of dollars worth of the most sophisticated medical equipment. He was being treated by expert doctors and nurses with medical training totaling in the hundreds of years. But it was a salesclerk in a flower shop, a woman making $170 a week, who – by taking the time to care, and by being willing to go with what her heart told her to do – gave Douglas HOPE and the WILL to carry on. *

It is encouraging and comforting to know that no matter what you are facing in life, there is Someone who CARES and who can RELATE to what we are going through. That Someone is JESUS…

“Therefore, in all things He [Jesus] had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people” (Hebrews 2:17). Jesus was “made like us,” therefore He knows what we go through AND He is able to provide that GRACE and MERCY to help us in time of need (Hebrews 4:16). But even more, Jesus was “made like us” to give us HOPE for better things to come. The basis of that hope is that Jesus DIED for our sins on the cross so that we might have forgiveness of sins. He was BURIED, but He ROSE again on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:1-3). HIS resurrection provides promise of our OWN resurrection when Jesus returns (1 Corinthians 15:20ff).

Because of JESUS, our whole outlook changes! He gives us HOPE and the WILL to carry on!

Do YOU have that Hope?

David A. Sargent creekwood@comcast.net