His eyes were filled with tears. He gripped the sides of the chair as if he were hanging on for his life. Little did I know, he was. I did not know what this precious man was facing the day I walked by his cubicle with Mavis Pearl(therapy dog), but I knew it was not good. As we made therapy dog visits to a local cancer treatment center to pass out care packages and quilts, we passed by his cubicle. His arm stretched out and he said with a very stern voice, “NO!” It was clear this man did not want our visit. My feelings are never hurt because I remember the day we heard the word “cancer”. No adjective can describe the emotions that run through your body at once when you hear those words. He made it clear he did not want a visit. I left the stuffed Mavis dog on his chair and told him we cared about what he was going through. He could take the Mavis dog or leave it there. But he was not alone in his fight. This was just a little reminder. And we continued on to the next cubicle. I prayed for this man throughout the entire day. There was a story there. A big one.
The next day I was contacted by this man. His first words were, “I am so sorry I was so mean and hateful to you.” He went on to explain that he had been given a terminal diagnosis of a very aggressive cancer, and the prognosis was not good. He said “when you are given months maybe weeks to live, where to you put that? How do you wrap your head around that finality?”
I listened, and my heart felt his pain as he continued to share his story.
He continued on with his story. “I left that stuffed Mavis Pearl dog on my chair, and went to my car. As I drove by the front door something caused me to stop, go back up and get that little stuffed dog. I placed it in the dash of my car and left. On my 
way home I stopped for some lunch, trying to pull myself together before I went home. As I sat at the booth, I overheard a family next to me dealing with their own grief. The grief of possibly losing their child. They were also facing a horrible battle with cancer. My heart immediately went to this family. I know that pain! But how could I help? What could I do? I immediately thought of that little stuffed Mavis dog and the gift I could share with this child. As I brought the stuffed dog inside I met the family on their way out. I explained to them that I overheard 
their conversation, told them I understood the cancer fight, and I wanted their child to have a little reminder she was not alone. Eyes were filled with tears all around, as we shared together, and the second that little stuffed dog left my hand, something happened. Something BIG happened. I got my fight back! I felt HOPE for the first time since I can remember! I may not have years left in my life but I had life left in my years, and I felt for the first time I had something left to give!”
way home I stopped for some lunch, trying to pull myself together before I went home. As I sat at the booth, I overheard a family next to me dealing with their own grief. The grief of possibly losing their child. They were also facing a horrible battle with cancer. My heart immediately went to this family. I know that pain! But how could I help? What could I do? I immediately thought of that little stuffed Mavis dog and the gift I could share with this child. As I brought the stuffed dog inside I met the family on their way out. I explained to them that I overheard 
their conversation, told them I understood the cancer fight, and I wanted their child to have a little reminder she was not alone. Eyes were filled with tears all around, as we shared together, and the second that little stuffed dog left my hand, something happened. Something BIG happened. I got my fight back! I felt HOPE for the first time since I can remember! I may not have years left in my life but I had life left in my years, and I felt for the first time I had something left to give!”By the time he reached this point of the conversation, the tears were flowing as fast as I could wipe them from my face. This sweet man gave. He gave out of his pain to help another. He stepped outside of his comfort zone, in blind faith to help another in need, and his world changed. As he put it “he received his biggest miracle that day!” He found hope. He felt God 
meet him right where He was. He found his purpose! In a simple act of kindness, he found his purpose.
meet him right where He was. He found his purpose! In a simple act of kindness, he found his purpose.That precious man lived about 8 more months, and he even volunteered and helped dress some of those stuffed Mavis dogs. I will never forget the last conversation we had. “Lisa if only I had learned that giving really does heal, then I could have spent my entire life as happy as I have been the last few months of my life. Serving saved a life, and that life was mine.”
There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think of this precious man who profoundly touched my heart. On the days I don’t have the energy to get out of bed, and am struggling with the noise of life around me, I remember the things that matter. I remember this man and his story. It all starts with one step. Sometimes those very small steps lead to the most profound miracles in our lives.
What are you facing today? Anxiety, depression, grief, abuse, addiction, financial struggles, marriage issues, self hatred?
Just take the first step. God will help you with the next one. Your freedom and healing is just one step away.