Your mom, she touched my heart!

“I’m sorry, I never do this but your mom …… she touched my heart".

My mom battle ovarian cancer for nearly 7 years. Her treatments for the cancer caused her to have a side effect of high blood pressure.  Because of this she was referred to a cardiac specialist, Dr. Lev. It was during these visits that my mom found out his wife was also battling cancer. She didn't see the doctor often. The appointments were quick, as most doctor appointments are. Yet my mom never once failed to ask him how his wife was doing, reassuring him that she was praying for her.  

Thanks to genetics, I am now dealing with high blood pressure. I was recently given a referral to see this same doctor.  Although I knew of him from my mom and dad I never met him until a few weeks ago. During my first appointment  we were going over my medical history when I said, " I know we have never met but you used to treat my mom.  Do you by chance remember Mary Huffman?"   He immediately stopped writing and looked up at me. In more of a statement than a question, he said "Yes, she died a few years ago at Madigan hospital".   He removed his glasses to wipe the tears from his eyes.  After a few minutes he said “I’m sorry, I never do this but your mom …… she touched my heart".  

He got up walked across the room to hand me a Kleenex. He said," Did you know I gave your dad my cell phone number"? I laughed and said" Yes, I did!"  I thought for a split second about asking him how his wife was doing but I was afraid to know. I am not sure I would have been able to finish the appointment if she had died as well. I guess I am not as brave as my mom.

After my appointment he walked me out to the reception desk. He asked me how my dad was doing. I answered him. As he shook my hand I looked him in the eye and said," thank you for taking such good care of my mom". He smiled and said..."It was my pleasure".

I love that God allowed me to see  how, even through a very difficult time mom reached out to encourage this doctor.  She did that so beautifully through her life and even more while she was battling cancer. She would pray each morning that God would show her who she was supposed to talk with that day. She purposefully sought opportunity to bring encouragement to others.  Some days it was just a smile, or a kind word. Once she even ended up praying for a women she met in a restaurant bathroom!   These little act of kindness may not seem like much. Nothing that is going to make the evening news, but as we can see through this doctor, you never know how something you say or do will touch someone’s heart.

We will probably never know the full extent of these "little things" until we get to heaven. It reminds me of a song that was popular a few years ago by Ray Boltz , "Thank You".  Here is just a small part of the lyrics.

One by one they came
Far as your eyes could see
Each life somehow touched
By your generosity
Little things that you had done
Sacrifices you made
They were unnoticed on the earth
In heaven now proclaimed

And I know that up in heaven
You're not supposed to cry
But I am almost sure
There were tears in your eyes
As Jesus took your hand
And you stood before the Lord
He said, my child look around you
For great is your reward

To reach out, with compassion, love, and simple human kindness.  That is something we can all purpose to do!  Who in your life might need a little bit of human kindness?  


Here is the link to the song if you want to hear the entire thing and be encouraged!
https://youtu.be/mgCInn5dr4g