Mrs. Helen called from the gate at 4:30 so I went to open it. We had been expecting her since three o'clock, since she had promised to come visit us and bring her younger son. Going out to greet her, I saw that she had four children with her, all standing at the gate in the chilly drizzle, with two umbrellas between them. The were all dressed in their Sunday best. They were afraid to come in because our dog Dusty was keeping up a steady loud barking. As the family came through the gate and into the house, one of the girls was nearly in tears because she was scared of the dog, even though I was holding him by the collar. He has never bitten anyone but does have a loud bark.

Luke was ecstatic at the sight of four children coming into his house, and he immediately started pulling out toys for them to see. Meanwhile, Mrs. Helen sat down on the couch and said, "I am so happy finally to be coming with my son to visit you and thank you."

I first remember meeting Mrs. Helen over a year ago. I was stopped at a traffic light when she tapped on the car window and motioned me to let her in. Once inside, she started telling me how I had treated her son when he was just nine months old, and severely ill with diarrhea. "He was so sick, we did not think he could survive. My husband was even against taking him to the hospital because it seemed a waste of money when he was going to die anyway. Do you remember?"

I felt bad that I didn't even recognize the mother or remember the patient. "When was that?" I asked.

"About five years ago." Ah, well, I didn't feel quite so bad, not remembering him among the hundreds of other babies with similar stories. Yet this woman remembered my face and was just waiting for the chance to thank me. And here she was again, yesterday, finally making the "official" thank you call. I rarely have the chance to see so vividly the results of our work here. Chibuike is just about Luke's age and size. If he had died back then, he would have been just one more sad weight on my heart added to that of others, few of whom I've ever known personally. Yet here he was, cheerful and happy, playing busily with Luke's cars.

Mrs. Helen kept saying thank you, and "glory be to Jesus," over and over as she, too, recalled with thanksgiving God's work in saving her son, and our participation in that healing. She even reminded Chibuike to come and thank me personally--I was so touched.

Incidents like this are little gems that God gives us now and then, reminding us that our work is not in vain. Thanks be to the God of all healing and comfort!

September 28, 2005