Yesterday we talked about someone suddenly coming to mind, and then running into them a few days later – what about when someone suddenly comes to mind and we think “gee, I should give them a call…”  Do we do it?

Several years ago my family doctor suddenly came to mind. I grew up in a small town and he had been my doctor, my mom and dad’s doctor, my grandma’s doctor…. I moved away from there when I was 19 but my dad lived there until he died, and during most of that time, I was busy ‘mis-spending’ my youth. The last Dr. B had heard, I was a mess.

That day when he came to mind, I stopped what I was doing and wrote him a letter. I let him know that, with God’s help, my life had been restored. I told him I was happily remarried, and sent a picture of my son, who was then 11 (he is 30 now) and said “look how much he looks like dad!” I sent him a picture of my daughter, and husband, and told him what mom was up to, and how we all were. Not only did I write the letter, I mailed it the same day.

Three days later there was a message on my voice mail. “This is Dr. B – I was so pleased to receive your letter! In my 80+ years I have only saved 4 or 5 letters but this one is going in my folder – if you are up this way PLEASE stop by and see me.”

Two months later both he and his wife were killed in a freak accident during an ice storm. I have been forever grateful that I stopped and took the time to write that letter, instead of “meaning to do it later”.  I am not saddled with “wish I…should have….could have….”, instead I will always have the memory of hearing the joy in his voice when he left me a message.

Such are the gifts we get when we stop, LISTEN, and act on that still small voice. I joke about the many voices in my head, but there is one that drowns out all others periodically, and that one does not originate with me. May I always listen when that voice speaks.