Our First Med School Graduation

Last week we experienced our first medical school graduation. It was great fun celebrating with the fourth years and hearing about what their plans are for residencies, research, and other post-grad opportunities. We had the joy of getting to know several of them as they finished up here in Beersheva. I loved hearing about all of their fourth year adventures, where they had rotations, where they spent their global clinical clerkship, how they managed (it’s always nice to glean wisdom from others who have gone before you!) As we ran into friends in others classes we would say, “This will be you in (1,2,3) years!” I told Nathan it was nice to get a little glimpse of the light that’s at the end.

 On the walk home that night Nathan and I were talking about the ceremony and how great the dinner was, we were privileged to sit at a table with a sweet fourth year couple and their family. As we sat around the table listening to the parents tell stories of their graduate son, I dreamed of that being us in 3 years, sitting around a table with family and friends, listening to Nate’s dad tell stories (the Douthit men have a gift in storytelling!). Nathan and I laughed as we talked about the stories and speeches we had heard, and were moved to excitement to think about the day when we will be in those shoes. But as we talked, Nate looked down at me and shared that as much as he looks forward to being a doctor, he is thankful for the season we are in now. As he shared with me, I began to realize that the season we are in now is good, and there is reason to be excited about where we are. He went on to say that he loves the time we get to spend together and places we get to travel and the opportunities we have been given here. It was a great reminder of being thankful for the grace we have right now in the present. Oftentimes we dwell on the good ole’ days or we daydream of the future and we forget to be thankful for what the Lord has given us in the present. Nathan and I get to spend a lot of time together, there will be a day when he works 80 hours a week as a resident. We get to travel to places a lot of people dream of going, there will be a day when it’s too expensive to travel to these places because of distance. The truth is, we are thankful for where the Lord has us now, and we desire to be useful here in Beersheva, to make lots of memories here, and to enjoy the graces the Lord gives us here. We look forward to three years from now when Nathan is awarded the rights of a physician, but we pray that we will be thankful for the time in between:)