Now, before you read on, let me tell you I have never before recognized when God was directing me to do something. I have prayed to hear Him before and maybe I was not ready until yesterday. But I heard Him loud and clear. And I obeyed!
Yesterday we had appointments for all the kids to get their flu shots at 2:50. This was a horrible time because all of the kids are down for a nap by 1:30, but it was the only time available so what do you do? I told Stephen to call the doctor's office and ask if they had any cancellations and they did. I thought Stephen said he got it changed to 2:00.
I felt bad that I couldn't go help Stephen but I had a meeting at another elementary school at 2:00. Once I was at the meeting I asked if the other teachers would mind if I just left my folders to be signed so I could go to the doctor's office and help with the scream-fest that was about to take place. It was not a problem and lucky for me, I was just down the street from the doctor's office. I made it with 8 minutes to spare.
I parked and started to walk in. I didn't see the van so I called Stephen and he said the appointment was at 2:20, not 2:00. So I went back to the truck to grab some magazines. As I walked towards the office building, I contemplated going back and waiting in the truck, which is what I normally do. This must be when God started to speak because I decided to go on in and find a bathroom. As I approached the entrance, I saw a woman sitting on the bench. There were tears streaming down her face and she was all alone. I wondered if I should stop but I was afraid I wouldn't know what to say. How could I possibly help this stranger? So I went inside. I felt like I needed to go back outside and at least wait to help Stephen unload all the kids. I told myself that if the woman was still there, I'd try to comfort her. She was gone.
I started to sit on the bench where she had sat and I noticed it was soaked, all but the spot where she had just sat. I started looking through my new magazine and she came back. She sat right back down on that wet bench and just let the tears fall.
The voice inside my head went something like this, "Okay God. I know I am supposed to do something here but what? I don't know what to do or say. Should I hug her? She's not very clean, Lord.....Okay, I'll stop procrastinating."
And I placed my hand on her back and asked her if she needed a hug. I asked her if she just received some bad news and she told me yes. She just found out she has cancer and she is being sent to M.D. Anderson in Houston. She said she has been in pain for a year but she didn't have insurance. I asked her if there was anyone with her and she said she had a transportation service bring her in from a town about 45 minutes away. They wouldn't be back to pick her up until 5:00 but she had a friend of a family member coming to get her. She said she has a 22 year old and an 11 year old and she didn't know if she should tell them.
She asked to borrow my phone to make sure the ride was on their way.
I just couldn't imagine all the things that were going through her mind. Then you add to it that the holidays are here and they might be her last. I thought of how I lost my mom unexpectedly and I told her she should tell her family...in her own time...but soon. I told her she needs their love and support.
About that time I saw Stephen and I excused myself to go help him. As we walked by her on our way into the doctor's office, I asked her her name. I gave her a hug and told her I'd be praying for her. As I walked away, I hoped that I made a difference. I regreted that I didn't ask her if I could pray for her right then but I've never done that before.
All because I skipped a meeting and ended up at the doctor's office 20 minutes early. Not a coincidence, a Godincidence. Please pray for Brenda.
