How God Helped Me Last Week

Posted by Molly

Last week my little Charlie and I were dropping off school forms at his doctor's office when we ran into an old very close friend of mine. This friend was someone who had been in both my life and my husband, Bobby's, for a very long time but in the last five years some things had happened that caused us to grow apart. We did not, however, have a falling out so when I saw him my first reaction was to be really happy and excited. My friend reacted differently. He was awkward and skiddish and tried to get away from us as quickly as possible. He acted like we had the plague. It took me off guard how rude and unfriendly he was to us. And once he made his escape it made me feel like I was going to cry. I held it together because crying in front of your children is very confusing and upsetting to them, but the sadness stayed with me all day and much of the following day. I just kept thinking, how could a friend treat me that way? Was it my fault? Am I not a good friend? What did I do wrong?


The day after my encounter with this former friend, Charlie and I went to the coffee sponsored by this blog after the 9am mass. While we were there, I had a chance to speak with Father Charlie who started to tell me about how despite obstacles coming up regularly in life (like our new priest being detained in Equador), God always puts what we need in our paths (like a visiting priest from Cuba who can help with the Spanish mass in the interim). Unfortunately, my own little Charlie, was anxious to leave so I didn't get to hear the rest of Father Charlie's story but the idea that God puts what you need in your path stayed with me.

On the way home, Charlie and I stopped at 7/11 for a slurpee and I ran into a childhood friend I hadn't seen in years. Everett greeted me with a smile and a hug and the fondness of old friends. Later that day at the pool, I ran into a college friend I had not seen in two years. Steve was with his wife and baby and was so excited to show them off to me. It was a warm and happy reunion. And then on Saturday night, I was out on a date with Bobby at our neighborhood restaurant when I ran into to two of my favorite moms from the nursery school board. Mary and Stacy made me laugh and reminded me how much I miss seeing them regularly and brightened my whole night.

And that's when it hit me. After my unfriendly run in with my former friend, I had really beat myself up over what I could have done wrong. God must have seen my struggle and wanted to help me. That's why he sent four special people into my path, to remind me of the things that I must do alright.

There are so many times in our day, our week, our month, our life, when God puts what we need right there in our path. I think a lot of times we're so busy that we miss these little gifts. From now on, I'm going to be looking. And I'm going to be thankful.