I have to write about this because one day I want to look back at it and remember this when I ever question if God is in control. we have been going to Westover Hills Church of Christ now for a couple of months, after not ever really feeling "at home" at our previous church. It wasn't one specific thing and we did like the pastor, it just didn't click. We both feel comfortable at Westover and Crawford really enjoys going to Sunday school there. Another added benefit is we get to see Oma and Granddaddy, which we all love.
Back track a little bit to last September, when we first found out about Gwen's heart condition, Oma gave my name and number to a woman who goes to Westover. The woman's daughter had open heart surgery to repair a whole she had in her heart when she was about four. We talked on the phone for almost two hours, but haven't spoken since. She helped me so much because she knew exactly what I was feeling and talked me through everything from anger and sadness to hope and faith. She also told me how well her daughter is doing now at the age of 7, and that she is a very spiritual little girl, who God is using in great ways. So... back to today! When it was time to leave for church today, Gwen was still sleeping so my Grandma Sarah said that Gwen could just stay home with her. I debated back and forth about waking her, but you know the saying, 'never wake a sleeping baby!' All of this to say that we had to leave AS SOON AS CHURCH was over to get back in time for Grandma to go to church. I had left right after church to go pick Crawford up from Sunday school and Nathan said he would go get the car and meet us where we usually park. Crawford and I hurried and walked out to the parking lot and after not finding Nathan I called him (frustrated to say the least!). He said he was on the OTHER side of the parking lot and then said he had texted me to tell me this. I hadn't received any text so I naturally thought he was saying this to keep himself out of trouble! We later found out that Nathan had sent a text, but it wasn't to me, it was to his friend Shawn (I'm sure Shawn was a little confused when he got that one!). As Crawford and I were walking across the parking lot, he said he had to go to the bathroom. Seriously?! Right this second?! He said he would just go outside (thanks Papa), but I told him we were going to have to go back inside. I'm not going to lie, I did think maybe we could go behind the building and no one would see. Fortunately my better judgement won out and we went inside. When we got back inside I carried Crawford to the restroom (because his little legs couldn't go fast enough) and right as I was about to go in a little girl stepped in front of us so we had to move out of the way for her to open the door. Crawford went and did his business, all the while, I was still frustrated with Nathan and the whole situation. Nothing seemed to be going the way I wanted it to!! When we went to wash our hands, the little girl who opened the door for us was standing there as well. She said, "Hi, what's your name?" I told her, and I am embarrassed to say, not in the nicest way. Not mean of course, but more of I am in a super hurry and I don't have time for chit-chat. Boy did God have another plan though! I asked what her name was and when she first told me, I had a hard time understanding, but then the speech therapist in me realized she had a lisp, and it clicked. This was the little girl who had the same heart condition as Gwen!! It stopped me in my tracks because I had prayed for her, her mom had prayed with me over the phone for my daughter, and here she was. She looked so healthy and happy! I told her that I had talked to her mom about her because my daughter Gwen was also born with holes in her heart. She said "I just had one big one! Does your daughter have more than one?" I told her yes and that we would have to have it repaired in about a year and a half. She said, "it will all be ok and I will pray for her." I just started crying and couldn't hold it in. God KNEW I needed to meet her, and hear what she had to say, at THAT moment. Just a few minutes before I sat in church praying for my little girl and wondered how things would turn out (in other words, trying to not worry and have faith, something I've been struggling with lately). I realize we still don't know, but it was like God was saying,"why do you doubt me and why are you afraid? Gwen will be fine, but until then stay faithful and she too will be a happy healthy little girl soon.". I never saw the little girl's mom and I don't know how to get a hold of her now, but I want to tell her that she and her daughter both have touched me, and that yes, like she said God is using her daughter for GREAT things!! It gave me such a peace in the one minute exchange, and reminded me that I don't need to worry or be scared; God has a plan. Something I need to remember everyday, in everything. So next time Crawford says he has to go to the bathroom, I'll be happy to take him because you never know when or where God might be giving you what you need!
I'm sorry this is so long, but I want to remember how many things had to happen for me to be in the bathroom at the same time as that precious little girl, and for God to use her to speak to me at that moment.
Jeremiah 29:11 and Isaiah 41:10 came to mind through all of this!!
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