Southeast Texas Medical Associates, LLP James L. Holly, M.D. Southeast Texas Medical Associates, LLP


Letters - A Facebook Description of a Miracle
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A Miracle On I-10 on Saturday, September 16, 2017 

Today, Dr. Aziz, Dr. Colbert, Mrs. Green and I spent the day supporting the Syrian Medical Society on giving health care to the members and friends of Mount Gilead Baptist Church in Beaumont.  

I had been skeptical about the group from Houston but they were excellent young people and we enjoyed working with them. I had committed to working with them from 10 AM to 1 PM but I left at 12:40 PM.

As I left the church, I entered I-10 at the railroad overpass.  In the middle of the overpass, I saw a mother and father walking across the overpass with their four children.   With heavy traffic, I hesitantly pulled to the side of the road and slowly backed up. 

I decided that was not a good idea so I just waited for them to walk to me.  They were walking to the Salvation Army where they had been staying for three days. 

From Houston, they had evacuated to a family member in Florida, only to have to leave  due to Irma.   In Mississippi, a police officer paid for a night's lodging.  They then had a car wreck in Baton Rouge.  

The damage caused the driver's side front tire to be rubbed and it ruptured.  With a used tire, they made it to the Salvation Army in Beaumont. 

For three days, they have walked long distances trying to get the parts and tools to repair their car to get back to Houston.  I never quite understood where they were walking when I saw them.

It was very hot, on concrete with heavy traffic.  When I saw the children, and having just been in the heat for three hours, I stopped.  I had just called Carolyn to tell her I would be home shortly, so I called to tell her I would be a while. 

The children were precious. They were respectful and not complaining.  

When I got them to the Salvation Army, I saw their damaged car.  I was tempted for a moment to let them off and leave, but then I realized there was no way they could do what needed to be done without help.  I called Carolyn and told her I would be longer. 

The mother and children were going to stay at the Salvation Army but the oldest boy, Mark Andrew, wanted to go with his father.  I said that they should let him. 

We drove from the Salvation Army to College Street and down Highway 90 about five miles where there was a used part needed for the repair.  We finally found the place, but it was the wrong place.  Finally, we found the right place but the part had a defective bushing. 

We bought it, knowing the bushing had to be replaced.  Then we went to O'Rilley parts to rent a tool needed for the repair.  They had the tool but did not have the bushing.  They gave us directions to another place which had the bushing. 

At that point, I asked if they had a new part like the one we needed.  They did.  I asked if it included the bushings. It did.  The next question was what was the cost.  We bought it and were back on our way to the Salvation Army.  

As we drove back, I told Mark Andrew, "Mark, you can tell your friends that today you met a man who is a follower of Jesus Christ."  He responded, "I will tell them I met God."  I quickly corrected that but realized later that he did not see me as God but see the life of God in a man.

I can't tell you how precious Mark Andrew is.  From home, I called to check on them and I talked to Mark. I told him, "Mark, I am very impressed with you.   You can have a great life if you work hard and make good choices."  I concluded by telling him that I wanted to hear from him. 

At home, the more I talked about this family and the more I told Carolyn about them, the closer and closer I was to tears. I was so glad that I had stopped and I realized that if I had not been at the Mount Gilliad Church, I would not have been on that overpass at the right time. 

This was a miracle and I am confident that I am the recipient. 

James (Larry) Holly, M.D.
C.E.O. SETMA
www.jameslhollymd.com

Adjunct Professor
 Family & Community Medicine
UT Health San Antonio
Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine 

Clinical Associate Professor
Department of Internal Medicine
School of Medicine
Texas A&M Health Science Center


The family of the miracle.  

As long as I live, I will remember seeing four children but there are only two. Either two angels were walking with then or the traffic was so bad that I never took my eyes off the traffic.

Mark William Lehman and his son Mark Anthony Lehman. 

https://www.facebook.com/james.l.holly/posts/10211745666371813

Face Book Responses to the above

Gayle Laminack

You were God's hands, eyes, ears, and mouth today. Bless you and your servant heart....

Debbie Ricks

I am so proud to know you and Mrs. Holly.  I know you have blessed my life.  Is there anything else we can do to help this family?

James T. Shepherd

The Scottish author Alexander McCall Smith speaks of our automatic responsibility to those who enter what he calls our Moral Sphere. We can't help everyone but we cannot ignore the plight of those within that sphere. I believe that you and I respond almost identically albeit from different philosophical perspectives. I am proud of your actions today and it should be an example to all of us.

Dean Halbert

From: Dean Halbert

You are amazing. Didn’t your mother teach you not to pick up hitch hikers?

Carolyn has to eventually be getting used to this. You not only expended money, you expended time and then some. 

You are an example not only for a company, but for humanity.

Joe Bill Holland

He is with us and around us daily, we just have to look. You were the one with the blessings this day! 

Thank you Larry for being His witness thru your example. You are a truly great man.

Scott Anthony

Wonderful thing you did boss. Proud to have known and learned from you over the past 18 years. I love the feeling you get when you help someone always have.  

On a much smaller scale, I have recently started paying for the person's order behind me at whatever drive thru I go to. Not much but makes me feel good.

I always tell the employee to tell the people that Jesus loves them. Glad it went so good today for you guys. Marcie's mom has been pretty ill all week but showing signs of improvement today.

With her mom's situation and her sister passing she is having a rough time right now. Please send prayers.

Love you and mrs holly; tell her I said hi
M

Kathy Moore

Thank you for being you! That family will always remember this day and the man who was Jesus to them!.... Kathy

Brenda Kerl

Thanks Doc for being the hands and feet of Jesus showing His love. It's an honor to know you and Carolyn. Love you both!!!