The prize is worth the price

Besides friends and family asking you the aetiology and therapy of anything concerning their health, another question that people in the medical field often get asked is whether spending between 10 to 14 years of training to become a specialist is truly worth it. Funny enough, that’s the same question we ask ourselves: is the sacrifice of several years of training truly worth it?

Anyway, this question isn’t peculiar to only the medical field. In fact, in almost all the decisions we make in life, there are always those moments of evaluation and re-evaluation that precede our final decision – they could be fugacious and sometimes even done subconsciously. But they’re there.

What happens in our minds is this: we consider whether the salary is worth the sacrifice required, whether the wage is worth the amount of work needed, whether the trophy is worth the rigorous training, and whether the prize is truly worth the price. And once we establish that the resulting pleasure outweighs the pressure/pains, we proceed to do that thing. Else, we discard it and move on to something else.

Today, several countries of the world are on lockdown because they believe that the health benefits of staying home and implementing appropriate social distancing outbalances the socioeconomic consequences of shutting down businesses and limiting individual freedom.

A mother goes through profound changes during pregnancy, culminating in labour before delivery because she’s convinced that the child is worth more than the pain. And the joy a minute after delivery is invaluable (that is, can’t be valued at any price)

The man illustrated in the parable of Jesus in Matthew 13 verse 44, quickly ran to sell all that he had to purchase that piece of land with a hidden treasure because he considered it more valuable than all his possessions.

Our Lord Jesus endured betrayal, false accusations, mockery and crucifixion because He considered the prize of reconciling man to God more valuable than the former. He paid with His blood, so we don’t have to pay with ours – a simple sincere repentance obliterates years of sinful lifestyle. He died and rose again so that we can die to sin and be raised to His righteousness.

So, here is the juice of this post: as we celebrate Christ’s death and resurrection, let’s remember that He took the humiliation because He considered our salvation invaluable and our freedom from sin of inestimable value. And Paul in Romans 8 verse 18 added this: “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

So, no matter the persecution, pains and troubles that you might be facing as a result of your faith in Jesus, please don’t give in; for the prize you’ll receive is worth the price you’re paying today.

Furthermore, I wish to encourage those who are not only making sacrifices to keep their faith in Jesus, but also making sacrifices of legitimate pleasures because of a good cause they’re pursuing; sacrifice for family, loved ones, country, the voiceless, the less privileged, the sick etc. Whatever it is, please hang in there. The reward will sooth the pains eventually.

P.S: when you see the joy of a new mom, hear the cry of a neonate, see the smiles on the faces of children, feel the joy and emotions in the heart of your patients and their families; yeah, that moment you realise that the pains, tears, tiredness, hunger, sleepless nights, huge financial expenses etc. were certainly worth it.

Happy Easter Everyone.

Buona Pasqua a tutti.