A journal entry about answered prayer, predestination, encouragement and the Church working together as the Body of Christ
On Mother’s Day, I had a salmon bagel for lunch… and I ate with God.
It seemed to be an ordinary day outside of it being Mother’s Day. Chauncey was traveling home from a business trip, spending the weekend with a friend, so unable to be with me. My daughters had traveled with a friend of theirs back to Kentucky so she could see her Mom; they weren’t able to come to visit me for Mother’s Day. Truly, I was happy because Chaunce was sharing a weekend with a dear friend and with an opportunity to share about God with his friend. The girls didn’t want their friend to drive the 14+ hours alone through areas hit by the recent tornadoes, it had been months since their friend saw her Mom and we had all just been together the weekend prior. My family was living for God and that was a Mother’s Day gift for me in my mind. Plus, it meant I got to rest and I so wanted to rest.
Following church, I wanted to treat myself to a salmon bagel which is a real treat for me. Having just spent a bunch of money on my business related items, Lauren’s graduation weekend, and Chauncey’s business trip I was feeling guilty about going for a bagel nearly talking myself out of it. Finally, I decided to simply go enjoy a bagel.
It was chilly in the restaurant and gorgeous outside, so when my bagel was ready I took the little tray outside to sit. As I was exiting the restaurant, a woman in a pretty blue dress was getting ready to walk into the restaurant. I held the door open for her and she commented on my bagel asking what kind it was. Telling her it was yummy, she said she would order a salmon bagel too.
The sun was warm, the air dry, and it was lovely outside. While munching on my bagel, I heard my phone buzz telling me an email had arrived. It was my co-worker Greg who helped me get my current job and has been a true friend over the last few years. He and I had exchanged emails recently because I was praying for his 12 year old nephew who had suffered a sudden and unexpected grave illness. Earlier that week, as Greg shared how he and his family were able to literally see God’s hand orchestrate events around his nephew’s illness, Scripture had come to mind. Feeling compelled to share as encouragement, I emailed a verse and my relating journal entry about foreknowledge and predestination. The email was Greg’s reply telling me more about God’s assistance, how it had encouraged him, and to tell me that the very Scripture I had shared was the very one his sister-in-law was reading in the hospital beside her son’s bed. Greg went on to say that his sister-in-law’s priest remarked when she told him which Scripture she was reading as the one he was considering on using that weekend. Greg said when appropriate, he would share that verse and journal entry with his sister-in-law hoping it would encourage her, too. Coincidence? Not in my book.
I sat amazed… God is simply amazing. I couldn’t deny God bringing Scripture and reasoning to mind when Greg and I spoke earlier that week. I was concerned about “sharing Scripture” at a time like that because hard times don’t always call for some Christian to throw verses at you. Instead, hard times call for a member of the Church to come along side you, encourage you, hold you up, cry with you, sit with you, hug you. But, I asked God and felt compelled to share this time. Perhaps because it was not a direct share with the wounded person but with someone close to the wounded. God knew, in fact God foreknew. The result? Everyone was calling to mind the same verse. Everyone was seeing God’s handiwork. Everyone was acknowledging God as the sustainer of life. I was amazed God allowed me to have a role (albeit a tiny role) in this time and I was relieved I followed His lead.
Fixed on the email, I didn’t realize that someone was standing near me. Looking up I saw the woman in the pretty blue dress carrying her salmon bagel. She asked to join me and I was happy to have the company. Sitting down, here’s were the encounter blew my mind.
My blue dress, salmon bagel eating new friend named “Sue” is a few years older than me. Within seconds of introducing ourselves to one another, she asks if I’m a Mom. I tell her yes and briefly tell her my family is out sharing the day with friends. Returning the question, I ask Sue if she’s a Mom learning then that she lost her daughter, her only child, a year ago Easter. Seems her daughter fell gravely ill on Good Friday 2010 and by Easter morning, Sue had to make the very difficult decision to discontinue life support. My heart just ached for her and swallowing became very tough indeed.
Our conversation immediately went to God. Not just a where was God in all of this but Sue knew God, relied and continues to rely on God. We had a deep conversation about the realities of God, His truths and who we are on all of those truths on a daily basis.
As she talked, she told me that prior to her daughter falling gravely ill, Sue had planned a vacation out west. After her daughter’s death, there was a long time before Sue would be able to receive her daughter’s body for burial. Sue’s clients were also reacting to the death in a way that wasn’t supportive to her. So reluctantly, Sue made the decision to go forward with the vacation using it as a time to heal.
She told me about literally hearing God speak to her while away and was relieved when I believed that she in fact heard God speak. Without telling my entire Valerie story, I told Sue I too had literally heard God speak one day. (I will have to share the entire story with her one day.)
Earlier that week, I had an email exchange with my Mother-in-law about another friend whose daughter lost her leg in a tragic jet-ski accident Easter Sunday. Also relating the story about Greg’s nephew, I had commented that both families were acknowledging God’s provisions, presence and comfort throughout their ordeals. My comment to Betty was that I had admired their testimonies but certainly wasn’t up for that kind of test because to pass that test meant it was at the expense of your child. I concluded with the fact that God knew better about the sacrifice of a child so thankfully He could truly relate to those families.
Now I sat across the table from my new friend listening to her story, hearing her strong faith, acknowledging her undeniable witness, sharing in her tears about the loss of her precious daughter. She said when her daughter passed on Easter Sunday, a nurse told her that another mother lost her son on Easter Sunday 2000 years ago. Somewhat cold as the comment sounded, Sue said it brought comfort to her and she related to Mary’s struggle on that day. I now related the conversation I had earlier that week with my mother-in-law to reinforce that God knows intimately what Sue went through.
Once again Scripture and stories were brought to mind as I listened to my new friend. It was obvious to me that Sue had the eternal choice in front of her; the choice we all face. She could have either chosen God relying on Him for her strength to carry her through this time or she could have walked away from Him blaming God for everything that happened. Sue chose God and her story encouraged me because, at that moment, I was struggling with the sincerity of my faith with God. She was encouraging me as only God can do through the Body of Christ His Church.
Not wanting to sound cold or superficially Christian, I quietly asked God to help me share what He was bringing to mind. The Scripture – Romans 8:28-30. The stories were my relating journal entries about foreknowledge and predestination and Job’s honor. I shared with Sue that God foreknew she would be going through this ordeal and, because she chose Him, He predestine the time away which became a time when she heard God speak to her. I told her that what she went through now became a way she could touch others to provide meaningful comfort as only she could relate; she could share God’s comfort with others, tell them how God understands and is there for them as He is for her. She could teach truths in their context, her context, God’s context. That because she chose God over not choosing God, and that He foreknew she would choose Him, He has now predestined what she went through would be used for her good, others’ good and His glory. She has been honored – an honor I cannot imagine nor do I want but so, so admire and respect. An honor that now encouraged me.
We finished with Ruth and asked God that He grant Sue the blessings of family Naomi received from Ruth’s loyalty. We prayed that God grant Sue some rest from further ordeal and bring her family, as only He can do. Sue so wants family.
We hugged, exchanged contact information, and went our separate ways. We knew full well that God had ordained our meeting and sharing. We couldn’t deny it. Two complete strangers, sharing lives with God over a salmon bagel on the sidewalk of a little bagel restaurant, only God can do that. So on Mother’s Day, I had a salmon bagel with God. And it was one of the best bagels I have ever had.
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November 20, 2011 - Update
Today, I drove passed the bagel shop and thought of "Sue" and God pressed upon me to call her. On the other end of the line, Sue answered. I said, "This is Rose; we met Mother's Day and shared salmon bagels." She remembered and was happy to hear from me. I told her that I had passed the bagel place, thought of her, wanted to hear how she was doing and to tell her that I have been praying for her regularly since we met. She said our meeting was definitely divine intervention because that day she was really low and hurting. Sue asked what I had been praying for and I said family - that God would provide her family she could call her own - a daughter, grandchild and surrounding family.
That's when Sue said, "Wait until you hear what's happened to me!" The short story is that she too had been asking God for a (surrogate) daughter - someone who needed a mother and would be her daughter - and a grandchild. Sue now has a daughter - a women from the former Soviet Union who moved here marrying Sue's late daughter's husband. They have a little five month old baby boy who adores Sue. This new daughter had been praying, before leaving her country, asking God to provide her a (surrogate) mother in the States; someone to share her life with as mother and eventual grandmother. Sue is a practicing psychologist. Her new surrogate daughter is working on her PhD in psychology. Sue's son-in-law and his family are thrilled to have Sue remain in their lives and everyone lives here in town. Her son-in-law's mother exclaimed, "We finally get to be grandmothers together," Sue shared.
The woman on the other end was full of life. She was giddy, laughing, praising God for the gift of family He granted and blessed her. I was laughing, tears streaming down my face, so happy for her. What a testimony she has!
Although we both know that God is in the business of answering prayers, we were both so amazed that He did and did so graciously and generously. Sue is now telling everyone about God and her answered prayers. While I was on the phone with her, Sue passes the phone to her sister after asking me to tell her about my prayers for her.
What also amazed us is the three of us were praying for specific family without either of us knowing we were praying for the very same thing. Sue's surrogate daughter was praying for a surrogate mother and grandmother before leaving her country. Sue was praying for a surrogate daughter and eventual grandchild. Unknown to Sue, I was praying for a daughter, grandchild and loving family for her. Just absolutely amazing... God blows my mind!
We remembered that we were likening Sue to Naomi from the book of Ruth. With these answered prayers, Sue really is Naomi.
