I love the way God orchestrates unexpected encounters.  They usually tend to occur just when I am frustrated over my plans not working out.  Just as I am near my last straw and becoming distraught, HE shows me that his plan is always best.  During the recent holiday season, God gave me not one amazing encounter, but two! 

The week of Thanksgiving, a close friend and I headed out for pizza at a favorite local spot.  Of course we had forgotten that family owned restaurants were often closed on Mondays! We headed to another favorite spot to find the same thing.  After two disappointments, we decided to head to a favorite chain restaurant a bit further away.  By the time we arrived and were seated it was near the end of the traditional lunch hours. As we talked, ate, and talked some more, the majority of the other diners were gone.  This led to an amazing encounter.

Our server came to clear our dessert plates and I asked if she needed us to free up the table.  The conversation that followed was truly God led.  This young woman was working her way through college and will be graduating this spring.  Her story was so inspiring to me since she was battling – and overcoming – some of the same mental health issues people near and dear to me battle.  Hearing her story of perseverance and determination had me in tears – good tears!  I told her that God had led us to sit exactly where we did so that we could meet her and hear her story.  Our paths crossed just when I needed them to. 

Two weeks later, on a search for an item on a kids wish list, my husband and I experienced a similar God designed encounter.  On what I thought would be an easy trip to find socks for this young boy, we reluctantly ended up at our fourth store of the day!  It was just before closing time and only a few cars were in the parking lot of the small store.  As we neared the door, my husband opened it for me just as a customer was ready to exit the store. The customer motioned me inside first before heading to his car.  My husband noticed his Air Force Veteran tag and thanked him for his service as he shared that he too was an Air Force veteran.  

Within minutes we heard the gentleman talking to us from the end of the aisle asking my husband if a certain car out front was ours.  Once we confirmed it was, the gentleman began going on and on about items flashing on the front of the car.  Soon, we realized that he was joking about the “house divided” car tag on my husband’s car.  What followed was a wonderful conversation with this Air Force veteran from Auburn. (Our son is the Auburn fan that divided our Georgia home.)  We found many things in common with our newfound friend. A few concerned his Air Force service; but his shared love for Jesus was the best part!  What had begun as a frustrating trip to several stores ended with laughter and joy after how God led us to cross paths with this new Georgia transplant.  

God’s plans are always amazing when we take the time to allow them to happen and to realize the sweet moments of unexpected path crossings!  

“The human mind plans the way, but the LORD directs the steps.”  Proverbs 16:9