Touch Of Heaven

Someone asked me the other day if she should visit her friend whose young daughter has been stricken with cancer. She wanted to know if she would be imposing on the family’s privacy if she did. My thoughts immediately went back to those days before my late mother passed away.

When my late mother was very ill a few years ago, my dad, my elder sister and I took turns to care for her. She was bedridden and was in constant pain. Looking back at those days, I wondered how we went through that period of difficulty. I wished for friends to come and visit, to share my burden, only to listen, if nothing else. My mother had little friends of her own and whatever relatives she had, they were dad’s. I longed so much for a touch of heaven here on earth but those who usually prayed until the heavens came down, were no where to be seen.

Later, when she was hospitalised, two of my dad’s sisters came to visit but what really touched me was when my aunt-in-law asked if she could come and pray for my mother. We didn’t exactly get off on good footing because she was a very conservative woman and seeing her nephew marrying a single mother must have upset her considerably. However, she remained amicable whenever we met at family functions. Given our history, I was really surprised when she wanted to visit my mother. She knew that there was nothing more that man can do for my mother but she believed that God can work a miracle; a miracle of salvation. What she did spoke louder to me about the her love for God and her faith than empty words without deeds.

My mother was already heavily sedated by then but I held on to the hope that her spirit would heed the call and turn her heart towards the path that would eventually lead her to heaven’s doors.

What I am trying to say is, sometimes all we can do is to just to be present, to hold a hand, lend a ear or say a prayer. It makes a lot of difference to the family that is walking through the valley.

A touch of heaven that the world needs.