Divine appointments...

Hubby and I try to discern what we call "Divine appointments" in our ordinary, daily lives.  A Divine appointment is a situation you can find yourself in that turns out to be something meaningful in a way you weren't anticipating or an unplanned encounter with someone that leads to a discussion of a spiritual nature.  It is "Divine" because we believe it is a God-ordained opportunity to encourage or help someone, often sharing our knowledge of Him.  In other words, God had it planned ahead of time and even though we may not be aware of it until it happens, (or maybe never realize it) we try to be prepared and sensitive to what He might be asking of us at any given moment.  I have a friend who travels by air frequently and she actually prays before each trip, asking God to give her an opportunity to be a blessing to the stranger who would be sitting beside her.  She has shared many stories of these Divine appointments and encourages others to look for them as well.

 I don't know if the encounter I had yesterday was one or not.  I was with my mom at the grocery store and I had my sweet littlest granddaughter with me.  (If I must say so) she is so beautiful that whenever I take her in public, she never fails to draw attention and strangers stop all the time to fuss over her.

As we were leaving the store, it happened again.  This time it was a man about my age, and just looking at my granddaughter must have given him a flashback or something.  This stranger began telling me that some years ago when he was 45 and his wife was 40, they found out they had their first baby on the way.  He proceeded to tell me how they had always been "pro-choice" and that he told his wife it was up to her what they were going to do about it.  After a few days of thinking about it, his wife announced she would continue the pregnancy and they would become parents.  He wasn't in favor of it and never really wanted kids.  

While following me out to my car, he continued his story.  His son is now 18 years old and the joy of his life.  While it wasn't always easy raising him, especially through the teenage years, this man realizes he has a dimension to his life he would not otherwise know.  I said, "well I am so glad you made the choice that you did."  He said, "I'm trying to figure out how I got from where I was to where I am now".  He said he was still "pro-choice" but couldn't imagine his life without his son.  Then he explained how his wife was one of five children and she was the only one without kids of her own, and what a "God-send" this baby ended up being for his mother-in-law, who died happy, knowing that all her five children had children of their own.

All I could come up with was "well I think you just answered your own question: it was a GOD-send!" Though it didn't seem appropriate to get into a heavy pro-choice/pro-life debate, I wish I could have thought of something more profound to say.  Whether he thinks about it anymore is up to him and God.  As I finished loading the groceries, mom and baby into the car, I gave him a wave of the hand and said "thanks for sharing your story, and best wishes to you."

Have you had any Divine appointments lately?  Do you ever look for them?

"Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:15~16