Paul Brand was born in 1914 in the mountains of India, where his parents were
missionaries. At the age of nine he was sent to boarding school in England. In
London, he later went on to continue his education by receiving medical and
surgical training at London University.
In 1946 Paul and his wife, Margaret, who is also a doctor, went to India, where
Paul taught surgery at the Christian Medical College and Hospital in Vellore.
Dr. Brand became the first surgeon in the world to use reconstructive surgery to
correct the deformities from leprosy in the hands and feet. His pioneering work
led to many honors. He was elected Huntarian Professor of the Royal College of
Surgeons of England in 1952. In 1961, Queen Elizabeth honored him with
appointment as "Commander of the Order of the British Empire." He was also the
recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the Department of Health and
Human Services, United States Public Health Service.
When Paul was 14 years old and in boarding school in London, he received a
telegram informing him that his beloved father had died of blackwater fever in
India. Brand cherished fond memories of his father, a man who had a great love
for people and a great love for the natural world around him. A short time after
he received news of his father's death Paul Brand received a letter from his
father. It had been posted prior to his father's death but took some time to
reach Brand as it came by ship.
It's words impacted deeply upon the young son. Paul's father described the hills
around their home and then finished with these words: "God means us to delight
in his world. It isn't necessary to know botany or zoology or biology in order
to enjoy the manifold life of nature. Just observe. And remember. And compare.
And be always looking to God with thankfulness and worship for having placed you
in such a delightful corner of the universe as the planet Earth."
Are you looking to God with thankfulness and worship for placing you exactly
where you are today? Today in prayer, thank Christ for creating you and placing
you in your exact corner of the universe.
"We often praise the evening clouds, And tints so gay and bold; But seldom think
upon our God, Who tinged those clouds with gold." - Sir Walter Scott
God's Word: "My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. Let every creature
praise his holy name for ever and ever." - Psalm 145:21
By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2003, Devotional E-Mail DEVOTIONS IN PRAISE AND
THANKSGIVING pkennedy@devotional.com
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