Introduction: When Illness Enters the Life of a Child.
It began like any other autumn morning. Little Andreas, a joyful eight-year-old boy with a bright smile and a love for singing the hymns of the Church, complained of tiredness. His parents thought it was a cold. But the days turned into weeks, and his fatigue deepened. Bruises appeared mysteriously on his arms. A visit to the doctor led to blood tests, and then came the diagnosis: leukaemia. The news pierced through the hearts of his parents and their small Orthodox parish community like a sword. In a moment, their world was no longer the same.
Tears fell freely. Silence often replaced words. But then, something beautiful began to form out of the pain: a prayer group. Not merely a gathering of people, but a spiritual family united by love, hope, and unwavering faith in Christ.
As weeks passed, Andreas showed great courage. Despite his weakness, he insisted on attending the Divine Liturgy when he could. One Sunday, after receiving Holy Communion, he said to his godmother: “Jesus came into my heart today. I feel strong again.”
His words touched the group more deeply than any sermon. They saw that grace was alive in him. As Christ said, “Unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3).
Andreas became their teacher. Through his patience, his gratitude, and his trust in Christ, he revealed the power of childlike faith.
One evening, the doctor shared that the treatment was not progressing as hoped. The prayer group gathered in tears. They did not know what the outcome would be.
But their prayers shifted. They began to say, “Lord, not our will, but Yours be done.” They placed Andreas in the arms of the Theotokos and asked for her intercession.
They read from Romans 14:8: “For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.”
The Orthodox Church teaches that death is not the end, but the beginning of eternal life in Christ. This hope — rooted in the Resurrection — gave the group peace even in sorrow.
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