Sometimes you run right into God!

            As I sat  at the traffic light, I saw the old man getting out of his car in the parking lot of Walgreen’s.  He could scarcely walk, inching one foot in front of the other and was obviously in a lot of pain. I looked at the 25  feet stretching from him to the front door as he balanced precariously,  fearing he’d fall down any minute.  How in the world would he make that short distance? Why didn’t he have a cane or walker with him?  I  made a decision.

            The light changed green  and I turned into the lot, but as I did so, a young woman approached the man and gave him a  shopping cart for his balance. The man smiled at her and tottered into the store.  I was ready to move on but then felt a familiar tug. “Go talk to that woman.” I pulled up next to her and rolled down the window. “That was a very nice thing you did for that man, “ I said, “I was afraid he’d fall down. Great idea with the shopping cart.”

            She smiled and then her eyes filled up with tears.  The first words out of her mouth were “the Lord.” “ The Lord told me to help someone today. I can at least still walk.”  And then she handed me a small card imprinted with a heart and the word “Isaiah”  and a website. She said her seven year  old son was born with a congenital  heart defect and was going for his open heart surgery in Salt Lake City. She was very worried because there were complications and the boy was frightened this time.

            I invited her into the car to talk some more.  She unburdened her heart about her little boy and her family who were Christians. Her husband had been a youth pastor in California and they now attended a large church in Boise.  She said that  the Lord also told her to keep a journal for Isaiah as he’s been under medical care because it would some day be his testimony for God’s love.  I was taken by her faith and her willingness to share her burdens with me, a total stranger. 

I listened to her as  she talked and didn’t say much  – unusual for me to say the least. Then I prayed for Isaiah, for her and the rest of her lovely family. I believe God has a special place in his heart where He embraces them and protects them. I believe Isaiah will  be healed and that he will have a miraculous testimony in the future. We met as strangers because of the elderly man struggling  to get to the pharmacy, but we left as friends and sisters.  She gave me permission to share her story and to ask for prayers  so I pass her request on to you. We  have the privilege to also become part of Isaiah’s ongoing testimony. 

www.caringbridge.org/visit/babywesson           

Reflecting on this encounter I’m amazed how God brought three ordinary people together in the parking lot to bless one another. His orchestration of time, place and  individuals   for  “the good of those who are called by His name” has stirred my own faith again to trust Him no matter the storms. He always places Himself exactly where we’ll run into Him!

I also wonder what would happen if the first words out of my mouth  in every joy and sorrow were  always like Isaiah’s mother: “The Lord…!”