… and you shall receive. 😉
For the most part today was an ‘uneventful’ day helping friends with moving into new homes and AC issues at another. Nearing dinner time I dropped into Jennika’s to visit with Jennifer and catch up on our lives. I told her about the videos and how I was happy with the four I’d seen so far but that I felt like there was one more aspect that needed to be addressed before the entire campaign felt ‘complete’. I’d made this same comment to the producers via email yesterday to see how they felt about me finding one more survivor who fit the bill with the message I had in mind and they were all for the job.
We had moved on in our conversation, talking about our boys, when this tall, striking woman walked into the store. Jennifer acknowledged her and made sure to see if she needed helping finding anything and when she told us she was just looking we continued our conversation. At one point she came near our direction and I asked her if she wanted a glass of wine (if you catch her near close you just might get a glass of wine at Jennika’s…sshhh). The woman smiled and said, “No thank you, I don’t drink alcohol.” Jennifer and I in unison said, “No wonder why you look so good!”
She (Nicole) smiled politely and went about shopping but something about her had my attention. She mentioned something else and I knew, ‘She’s a survivor.’ She came to the counter and Jennifer took notice of something else she was buying and we picked up conversation. I began to ask her questions that might have seemed a bit personal but something kept telling me, ‘Ask her!’…so I obliged.
In five minutes enough was said that I pointed to my book from where Jennifer had them displayed and said, “That’s my book, take it. It’s yours.” Nicole picked it up and upon reading the back she had this look in her eye and said, “This gives me the chills.” And like she’d known us for years she said, “Let me check my life off to you in reference to your book,” and proceeded to tell us more intimate details about her family and other things that left me with a bobbing head, understanding and empathizing.
Nicole stayed and talked to us for about 30 minutes when it dawned on me that what she was telling me was the very component we were missing in the “I Have a Voice” Campaign. I’m sure she didn’t see me coming when I said, “Would you be interested in telling your story in front of a camera to raise awareness and offer hope to others?” Her eyebrows raised but her smile widened. I quickly went on to explain more of what I do and about the campaign.
There is much to be considered for her to agree but her instinct told her ‘yes’…her husband’s approval is needed to go ‘public’ which I respect greatly. Whether or not Nicole officially agrees to do the video I feel as if God sent her into that store to be an answer to my request. The air in the room crackled with the energy that erupted from our conversation and before she left she told us about a moment that allowed her to fully embrace the presence and reality of God in her life.
Her son was going through a very difficult spine surgery and though she, her husband and the other family members were not ones to ‘believe’ in God, they were concerned enough to turn him over to a ‘higher power’ and gathered in his room to pray. Nicole prayed out loud within the confines of the room for God to watch over her son and surround him with a legion of angels. Awhile later they were standing near the doorway when she felt like she saw a shadow flit by and then a few moments later a woman came to the door. She entered and said, “Excuse me, I know this might seem odd but I feel as if God wants you to know that He is watching over your son and he is surrounded by angels. There are literally angels filling this room right now.” (That is paraphrased of course.)
The hair on Nicole’s arms raised as her flesh prickled with goosebumps retelling the story. The light that emitted from her smile made it clear she knew God had sent that woman to her. Possibly that woman could have been an angel herself. There was no way that woman could have known she had prayed for her son to be surrounded by a legion of angels.
Before Nicole left she acknowledged that God’s plan is an intricate one and that moment in the hospital got her to fully believe in Him and possibly set the stage for other members. It was a gift for me to see this woman, stranger to me, beam like a beacon with the love of Christ. I am blessed for having met her for a moment regardless if our ‘chance’ meeting goes on to produce more fruit.
Don’t give up on a day that seems mundane, you never know who will walk through your door.
Blessings
Shannon