Surprises From God by Patricia Tichonoff
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all Comforts. 2nd Corinthians 1:3
In His grace and mercy, we never know what the day is going to bring or how God will use us as His perfect plan unfolds. This is about a special day for two strangers.
I planned to have my front door repainted due to paint blistering. The young man came early in the morning and introduced himself and we chatted. As he was finishing up, I explained I had a dental appointment that I needed to keep. He assured me he would be done. While he was cleaning up, he noticed a cross I was wearing. He then pulled out a beautiful gold cross that his father had given to him with the Lord’s Prayer on it. He told me the story of the cross and how much it meant to him. He had learned this prayer through the inscribed words.
He then asked me if I would talk with his mother, another stranger. I listened as he began to tell me that he had just lost his father three months earlier and that he was concerned about his mother’s grief. Obviously, he could not know that thirty years ago I had lost my husband to the same illness as his father.
I asked him to come in so that he would be more comfortable and he continued to share his story. I then explained my loss. We prayed together for comfort and healing. As he left my home, I hurried to get to my appointment and while driving I talked with God and continued to pray for him and his family.
I sat in the car for a moment after I arrived at the dentist. The tears wanted to come but I suppressed them and shook my head and said out loud, “God, Your grace and mercies never end. Thirty years ago, I went through the same pain and grief the young man and his mother are going through right now. Nothing is wasted in Your love for us. You sent a young man to my door that needed confirmation that all will be well for his family.”
This was just another reminder that we have a God who loves us. He understands and uses our personal pain so that we can share with one another.
Father, You always understand our pain and our joys; they are never wasted and forgotten. Thank you for the sweet reminders that You are always present. Amen.