Last week, my podiatrist was wrapping up his last work day before he went on vacation until after the New Year. Like most foot doctors, he has patients with chronic conditions that never seem to heal, despite his best efforts.
That day was different. Every patient he saw with a chronic foot problem, even a couple with foot ulcers that had been open for years, had their wounds close up and healing. He was astounded at his good luck.
Near the end of day, just before his last patient, he remarked to his wife (and office manager), “This winning streak is about to end. Bill’s foot hasn’t gotten better in the past few weeks, and there’s not much chance it will get better for this visit.”
I arrive at the office and he examines my foot. He asks me, “Which do you want first, the good news or the bad news?”
I answer dejectedly, “Give me the bad news.”
“There is no bad news. This is healed.” Then he tells me the story of his “winning streak” and how I made it last to the end of the day.
I’m not quite out of the woods yet. I still have to wear bandages on my foot and be careful. At least now I can take a bath without wearing a plastic bag over my foot.
So what we’ve got here is a Christmas miracle! Or a Festivus miracle. Maybe a Hanukah miracle, since this happened on the last day. I’ll settle for a little dose of Yuletide magic.