The Hand that Gives You Roses

A few days ago I was talking to my mom on my drive home from work. It was just a normal conversation between a mother and daughter. I was complaining about my commutes in the snow to Cleveland and she was complaining about her commutes in the snow from Mansfield to Butler. While we were talking, she shared a story with me that I thought was worth passing along.

Earlier in the week, on one of the really snowy evenings, my mom was driving home from work. She was getting really irritated with the woman in front of her who was driving much slower than she would have liked. Eventually the woman pulled off the road and my mom was thrilled to be able to get around her. When she got home, my mom was telling the story to Mark. As soon as she mentioned the part about the woman pulling off the road, Mark started asking questions about where she was, why she pulled off the road, and so on, all while he's walking around looking for his keys and putting on his coat. As he was walking out the door, my mom asked him, "Where are you going?" He answered, "I'm going to find her and see if she needs help." He then got in his car and drove down their very steep and snow covered driveway to see if he could help this woman he didn't even know.

This is just one of many examples that show what a kind, caring and compassionate person my step-dad, Mark, really is. Everyone who knows him probably has a similar example of a way he has shown his kind and giving heart to someone (or something, he's all about helping the animals too!) in need. I can't help but think, in addition to the enormous fight Mark has put up against cancer, maybe there are bigger reasons that he is still here. Maybe God realizes that we need more people in the world like Mark. Perhaps God knows that each and every day Mark remains in this world it becomes a better place not only for those who know and love him, but also for those who don't.

In March, it will be 5 years since Mark was diagnosed with Stave IV Melanoma Skin Cancer and given less than 6 months to live. The odds were set terribly against him, and yet, miraculously, he's still here to bring in the new decade with us. Miraculous indeed.

A bit of fragrance always clings to the hand that gives you roses. - Chinese Proverb