04/10/2026
A Great Story
Back in December I wrote an article for the New Year challenging my readers to be the one who takes the first step to forgive and contact a loved one whom they have not spoken to for years. Well, here is a follow-up to that article. On a busy Friday, with phones ringing and multiple patients in the waiting room, My secretary, Linda, stopped me as I was going into the next patient’s room, and listen to this scenario, it will make you cry.
With tears in her eyes, Linda said to me, “You must come across the office to where we the CDL (truck) exams, and someone wants to give you a hug”. I saw the tears in her eyes, I could feel that this couldn’t wait, so I followed her to the adjustment room.
I walked in, and a man with tears streaming down his cheeks stood up and exclaimed, “ I want to thank you! I read your Panorama article about being the first one to contact a loved one whom you haven’t spoken to in years, and it changed my life! You see I’m 63 years old, I wouldn’t talk to my brother for 10 years, 10 years! But I read your article, and that day I called him. Now our relationship is restored, and it is all because of your article!” My secretary cried, he cried, and I wept as he hugged me. He looked at me, like I saved his life, like I did something spectacular. But here is the truth, I feel God’s presence in those moments.
You and I are weak, human beings, full of imperfections. When I daily pray, “Lord, search me, help me to be more like you”, only then can God do great things in our lives.
So, when my friends kept telling me, “John. You are getting older; you have less time to do the things you truly enjoy. You should retire, golf more, travel more, not be so busy.” They don’t get it. I am doing what I truly enjoy. In helping others, I am healed, I have a purpose. I do golf, I do travel, I am not a workaholic, I have balance.
Let God humble your pride. Do as this man did. Forgive, and call a loved one that you stubbornly ignored for years. You will cry in joy also.