RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME, RIGHT PERSON, RIGHT WORD

Recently, as is routine, we asked the couples in our community/home group for their prayer requests. After a few tearful requests, one of the husbands simply said, “Please pray that daily I am in the right place at the right time for the right person with the right words.” I remember writing down his request and thinking, “Wow, of all the requests he could have made. It’s so simple but profound.” As the night came to a close, I could NOT stop thinking about this brother’s request. 

Two days later, while doing some random house things, I spontaneously threw on my jacket and drove off in the rain to get the renewal sticker for my car tags. It was such an awkward last-minute thought. Such an abrupt move. And, NOT on my to-do list for that day. 

I drove up to our local recreation center to use the kiosk provided by the State. In my spontaneity, I forgot the registration renewal papers but was able to use last year’s in my glove compartment. Walking briskly through the rain, an older woman held the door for me. I was caught off guard as she awkwardly got in my space trying to read my t-shirt. As we walked, I held open my jacket so she could articulate EACH and EVERY word, while I made sure she didn’t trip over her own feet: “Her shining light will not be extinguished no matter how dark the night.” (Proverbs 31:18)

Her response, “Hmm…”

I replied, “Our youngest gave it to me in honor of her sister.” 

Again, “Hmm…”

So, I added, “Her sister, our oldest daughter, is in heaven.” 

“Ohhh, I see. And how did she die?”

It took the power of God to keep me from falling through the door. I was not ready for this! I was on a random jaunt to get my sticker from that kiosk just 10 yards away…right there…that kiosk…right over there!

And then, like only God can orchestrate, she interrupted my life to share her heart not yet knowing “our story”. I listened as her shaky voice began, “I have two sons, both are Christians. The older one is strong and kind and such a wonderful person. The younger one always struggled and is an alcoholic.” (My heart began to pound as she tiptoed into our tragedy.) She continued, “For years I prayed to God for either of two things: that He would deliver my son from this terrible addiction and spare his life, OR, when he inevitably crashes his car that he would not kill anyone.” With tears falling down her face, she added, “God heard my prayers. My son crashed his car a couple of years ago and died alone.”

[When you think you are so empty and void of anything good, God often times will place you on a precipice just to show you what HE has deposited in your heart, and to remind you that HE is with you, and HE will get HIS glory. This was that!]

Before I knew it, I had my arm around her and was consoling her. In one sentence, I stuttered “our tragedy”:  Meagan and I were on a road trip together and were hit head-on by an unconscious drunk driver that resulted in her instant death. And then, I began speaking life to this lady’s grieving soul. I convinced her that her son did NOT die alone. That God heard her unselfish prayers and did answer her. That being a Christian struggling with life, her son’s final act did not determine who he was. I admitted that I had no clue how these things work nor would I ever presume to know the mind of Christ, but I am quite certain that though her son may have been an alcoholic, he was first A Child of God. I proposed the thought that since God knows everything before we act or speak a word, AND ordains the number of our days (Psalm 139), could it be that He saved her son spiritually years prior because He foreknew this crash was inevitable? Could it be that Our Creator cared enough about His creation to let her son’s life of torment end abruptly while sparing innocent lives? Could it be that since our Merciful God redeemed her son that he is now in heaven with his Creator?

She hugged me with both arms and we cried. Yep, right there inside the doors of the Rec Center just 10 yards away from that kiosk! We cried from pain but more so for the grace of God who called my Meagan and her son by name. I looked into her eyes and said while pointing upwards, “They just beat us there.”

Ignoring the onlookers, we said our goodbyes and parted ways. As I was catching my breath and proceeding with the kiosk transaction, my home group friend’s words pierced my heart:  May I be in the right place at the right time for the right person with the right words. OMGosh! God did it again! I ran in the rain to my vehicle before I cried a bucket load of tears. Not only did God jerk me again outside of “the world of ME,” but He also used me way outside of my comfort zone to minister to a hurting mom about her alcoholic son. 

I saw a vision of my Meagan in heaven—a victim of alcohol abuse! And, in heaven, that lady’s son—a victim of the disease of alcohol! Then, I pictured OUR SAVIOR JESUS—laughing with and loving them both. ONLY GOD.

All ye sinners come home!