I strode to the end table to pick up the phone. A glance at the caller ID sent my heart jumping with anxiety.
“Hello.” My fingers tensed around the handset.
“Me.” My Baba’s calm voice wafted into my ears.
My pulse accelerated as I anticipated some good news about the progress of his cancer treatment.
“Baba, are you feeling better?”
“My doctor confirmed today I’m cancer-free.”
My eyes widened. “That’s great. You’re well.”
My wife stood beside me, her smile brighter than a flashing star.
“Yes. I called because I wanted to say thank-you to your God, you, and your church. Thank you for praying for me.”
Tears coursed down my cheeks. I swallowed hard to stifle my crying, recalling the times when Baba taunted me and my wife (then my girlfriend) after I forsook my Buddhist belief and accepted Christ. He hated her as he thought she took me away from him and from his family religion. But God used me and my wife to plant seeds in his heart over the years.
“You’re welcome, Baba.”
“One more thing. I know who has a heart for me.”
I kept silent. In an indirect manner, he asked me to forgive him. I already had.
Then we said our good-byes.
About three years later, I received an urgent call from my sister. She said Baba fell and was hospitalized. I immediately flew back to Hong Kong the next day. When I arrived, my family told me Baba had passed away when the plane was still in the air. I knew I had missed the last opportunity to share with him the Love of Jesus.
Only God knows if Baba had accepted Christ before he died. I hope he had.
Dicky
Dicky To's Inspirational Writings 
Beautiful and well-written.
Thank you Jennifer. Although it’s hard for me to write my story, I wanted people to know God can change a person’s heart.
How powerful…what a touching story! In reading it, I was reminded about a funeral I attended when my brother’s father-in-law, a Buddhist, died. The mom-in-law grabbed onto me and wouldn’t let go. Only a few weeks earlier I had invited her and her husband over for Sunday brunch. He had been weak at the time, but had enjoyed his visit, and he had like the Asian lamps I had as part of my decor. After his funeral I wondered…did he go to be with the Lord? And God said, “Susan, are not these your very own family? Have you not prayed they might know Me? And will not your God answer those prayers according to My Word which says, ‘You shall be saved…and all your household?’ (Acts 16:30-32)
Dicky, I love this story! It’s so well told. If it is a true story, as it seems to be, I just KNOW your “Baba’ is with Jesus.
Susan, thank you for your nice comments. Yes, it is a true story. I still hope I can see my Baba in heaven.
Got me in tears! Thanks for sharing this.
Thank you for your comments Connie.