When my husband had his recent heart surgery, I spent a lot of time hanging out at the hospital. One long day was broken up by an unexpected visitor. It was a volunteer coming around to deliver flowers. That was a good thing.
Except she didn't have any flowers on her cart because there was a nurse on my husband's floor who is severely allergic to the plant that was sent to him. That was a bad thing.
Normally the people in the plant room would have refused the plant and sent it back where it came from, but since there was no one in the room at the time the plant was just dropped off. That was a good thing.
It was also a good thing that the volunteer chose to see if there was someone who could receive the plant on my husband's behalf, because there I was. I welcomed the opportunity to stretch my legs and followed the volunteer through a labyrinth of hallways and into a staff elevator where the woman, her cart and I were joined by two food service personnel each pushing a large cart towering with food trays headed back to the kitchen. One more tray and I don't think we would've fit! Down we went to level A, where again we wove our way through hallways filled with support staff busily going about their business.
Finally we reached the plant room, empty but for the most gorgeous poinsettia plant I've ever seen. With its leaves sparkling with gold glitter, I had to touch it to see if it was real.
It was!
It was!
My guide now led me back up to the main floor where once again I gained my bearings. Now on my own, I made my way through the lobby, down the hall (which always feels like a wind tunnel), up the stairs, along the skywalk and into the parking ramp where I'd parked my car.
Every day I came to the hospital I seemed to get a parking spot farther from the last. Being someone with memory issues, that was a bad thing. Thankfully, I remembered I was parked in an odd aisle because it was labeled with two different levels. The end I parked on said level 3, but the door to the skywalk at the other end said 4. After a little searching, I found my car and gingerly placed the plant in it.
Since it was December in Michigan, I was in a hurry to get back inside because I'd left my coat back in my husband's room. Despite my rushing, I noticed an older woman in the ramp looking frustrated. I stopped to see if she needed any assistance and she told me she knew exactly where she parked because it was in section B4 (before). That was a good thing, but despite knowing where her car should be, she couldn't find it.
I could tell she was worn out, so I asked her to describe her car to me (she didn't know her license plate number) and I walked down the row of cars to look for it while she waited. Unfortunately, I couldn't find it either. While I was looking, she wandered into the next section over. Now she was getting tired, frustrated, and we were both freezing.
Suddenly, I remembered the odd aisle I was parked in and wondered if she had done the same. I looked over, and sure enough, there was an aisle above where we had been looking that was split between 4B and 5B. She couldn't see the signs but took my word for it and spent her last bit of energy making her way over with me. As soon as we got close, she spotted her car!
"It is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." ~ Philippians 2:13
Suddenly, I remembered the odd aisle I was parked in and wondered if she had done the same. I looked over, and sure enough, there was an aisle above where we had been looking that was split between 4B and 5B. She couldn't see the signs but took my word for it and spent her last bit of energy making her way over with me. As soon as we got close, she spotted her car!
"It is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." ~ Philippians 2:13
She kept thanking me, saying she didn't know what she would've done if I hadn't been there. I took the opportunity to tell her that it didn't have anything to do with me, but everything to do with God. I'm amazed when I think of all the events He orchestrated to get me into just the right place in the parking ramp at just the right time and gave me just the right experience to help this woman that was at the end of her rope.
Father, You never cease to amaze me. Thank you for caring about our lives, from the major events down to the little things like a misplaced car. I pray for the woman I met in the ramp, that she would be overwhelmed by Your love for her.
Lisa
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I’m glad that everything went fine and hopes you have a good future.
Hi Lisa. Good to meet you. I am dropping in to your blog for the first time through Missional Women Faith-filled Fridays.This lovely reflection reveals how God gave you encouragement and provided help and support to the woman you interacted with too. Such beautiful 'God-incidences' we marvel at (often in retrospect) and trace back to the Father's infinitely tender and all-encompassing care.
May you continue to have eyes wide-open to God's hand upon your life and that of your loved ones as you lean into His embrace through the struggles you are facing. God bless you :)
What a sweet blessing to you, as well as from you to her. Praying your husband is much better. And boy, I can so relate to losing cars in big parking lots. Do you have a cell phone with a camera? I now take a photo of the signpost whereever I park. Then I can refer to the picture to help me find my car. I can't tell you what a help that's been! Have a blessed week.
What a precious post. Yes, it's wonderful how God works to get us where He wants us to be, at just the right time. Thanks, Lisa, for sharing.
Many blessings,
Wanda S.
Wow ! Can relate to the parking lot............been there ,done that when Uncle John had his heart surgery. Such a good reminder of how God is there and use us if we are available. Thanks for sharing and say Hi to Bob. We are praying he is still doing well in his recovery.
Greetings in Christ Sister/Lisa,..thank you for sharing & living the Christian Life,...:) May our Lord wonderfully Bless you & keep you this year as you both..seek & persue Him in His wonderful Promises Prepared for you,..(Jer 29:11)Keep your posts coming,..:) Brother/Pastor:Gregory Albertson
Thank you for sharing this example from your life. It's always nice to read how God works through us when we allow Him to.
What a wonderful story. It's amazing how just a simple act like that can have such a huge impact on someone else. I have to say I regularly forget where I park my car NOW never mind when I'm older! (I literally dread to think!) It was great that lady had a guardian angel there to help her :)
Thanks for linking up!
Sarah @ A Cat-Like Curiosity
Praise God for your listening ear. You are faithful to follow his direction! I'm glad I found your blog. I'm your newest follower.
Thank God for looking out for this dear lady and placing you there at just the right moment. You were able to remember the split lots and help her find her car. I am glad you let her know that God was a part of this discovery! Thanks for sharing at Tell Me a Story.
Hi Lisa
I am visiting from Finding Heaven and was amazed at how our Lord provides in peculiar ways! Yes,dear one, it is the small acts of kindness, usually unplanned, that stays with us for a long time!
Hugs XX
Mia
Great post! And, it is so timely for me to read. God has been teaching me this lesson lately! "I'm amazed when I think of all the events He orchestrated to get me into just the right place in the parking ramp at just the right time and gave me just the right experience to help this woman that was at the end of her rope." So true! Thanks for linking up today!
so true! It's the littlest things isn't it? As long as we are putting ourselves out there!
I love this "God" story Lisa. So glad I linked up with you over at Eileen's place. You just never know when God is going to call us to stop, and bless someone else. You have a beautiful heart and Poinsetta plant too :)
What a wonderful story and such a blessing that you were there for this woman exactly when she needed you!
Fits right into my comment/motto: Right place/right time. I've been able to jump into situations just like that in the past. It's always a blessing to help and be helped. You really touched her and it was NOT an easy stretch of time for her. YOU planted seed in her heart with your actions and your words. Blessing. [Hope the plant lives forever!!]
I totally think this works with sisterhood, too. We don't always have to have these deep bonds -- we can just listen to what God is telling us and that enables us to bless a sister in need!