Encounter

Yesterday, like most this summer was pretty busy.  Drove my baby girl down to camp for the week and afterwards, I was spending the afternoon with my son.  We had some business to take care of…..picking up his new trumpet for 6th grade band and purchasing new sneakers because a month ago he informed me that his toes were killing him.

Ahem…….

So, we set out and had a nice afternoon.  He mentioned a new card game he wanted so off we went to the big city of Little Rock in hopes to find this treasure.

Sadly no game but we ended up in the Lifeway store.  I was checking out the bargains on the clearance rack and my son cruised along the music isle.  Being the cautious mother, I looked over my shoulder a few hundred times to see where he was…….there in the corner of my eye was a woman dressed in white.

My son and I made our way over to the young adult books.  We were looking at some cool new novels.  For some reason, I looked to my right and just an isle away….. there was the woman dressed in white.

Thinking nothing of it, we moved over to the Bible study area.  I was pointing out all the studies I had already completed.  Impressed, my son pulled me over to the Bible covers.  Next thing I know, I am face to face with the woman in white.

“I need a new one.  Mine is so tattered.” she said as she pointed at the covers.

I chuckled and said, “I know the feeling.”

We started to walk away when I heard, “Ma’am.” She had moved towards me.

“I wasn’t supposed to be here.  I was driving home when God nudged me to come in the store.”

I smiled.  Thoughts rushed through my mind.  I didn’t know what to think, really.

“God told me to find you.  He has a message for you.”

Okay, this is a new one.

“He wants you to know that He is right there with you.  Whatever you are experiencing or will be experiencing.  He will be right beside you.  He will be there until the end and will see you to the other side.”

Flashes of my busy life interfering with my writing and speaking began to surface.  My housework ignored.  My afternoon fatigue tugged at my heart.  My kids and Mark neglected.

“It isn’t what your thinking.  God will reveal and will be there.”

Floored.

I thanked her as she walked away.  Gone in an instant.  No where to be found.

Pray for me.

God bless……

Broken Hearts

His little hands signed but his sweet heart cried, “Can God sign?”  Me, all of 20, scanned the room of the 7 little boys I cared for in the dormitory.  Their eyes glued for my answer.  All their hearts wanted to know the same answer.  Can God sign?

I tucked the sheets up under his chin.  I patted his head.  I didn’t know God.  I knew bits and pieces of Him.

Did God sign?

A tragic accident claimed the life of a young soul.  Their friend, classmate, and bunk-mate.  Gone at the swerve of a car hitting him as he gathered the mail.

“I don’t want George to be alone.” his sweet hands moved to the words of his hurting soul.

I didn’t know how we were going to communicate in heaven.

“My mom said God fixed George.” he continued.  Confusion left a burning question on his heart as he boldly signed, “Was George broken?”

How should I answer?  I quietly sat there and pondered.

Today, I will most likely see that young boy, now a grown man.  A dear soul has gone to heaven and today we, together, celebrate her life.  Her life….. a celebration of courage and endurance.  A day to remember her accomplishments, her good deeds, her family in which she held so dear.

But most of all a celebration of homecoming.  Praising God.  God stood by her.  God held her.  God called her home.

My answer then and still remains today, “God doesn’t have to sign.  We will just know what each other needs to say without words or signs.  And as for fixing…… We are the ones broken.  Our hearts are broken because George {and now Barbara} are gone.  We have to let God fix our hearts by loving and caring for one another.”

Today, our broken hearts will say farewell to a beautiful, kind, generous, woman whom possessed God’s perfect love throughout her long battle with cancer.  May the heavens rejoice along with us as well celebrate her life…..our gift from God.

Thank you, God, for sharing Barbara with us.