you never know

I have a patient who doesn't initiate conversation, but will raise her head and look at me in response to her name. Many times she'll be praying "Hail Mary" in a barely audible voice. I will usually say a prayer while I'm with her. I'll talk with her or sit in silence if I run out of what to say or if she looks more tired than she usually does.

Today when I updated her daughter about my visit, she told me that she had visited her mother last week. My patient did not say a lot to her daughter, but when her daughter prayed with her and mentioned that she knew the hospice chaplain prayed with her my patient responded, "Chana." Later she told her daughter, "she's Jewish."

I knew she hears my prayers because she will often join with me. I didn't know that she knew my name, that she was aware that I don't share her faith, or that she remembered my visits. You never know when you're making a connection....