An Unexpected Time in the "Necessary Room"

            Hubby and I enjoyed dinner out, having been given a restaurant gift card. At the close of the meal as we boxed our leftovers, Brian said, “If we get to my appointment early, maybe I’ll be able to come with you to yours.”

            We’d timed our busy day carefully. 1) Eat out. 2) Stay with Brian at the ophthalmologist until I must leave for my pulmonology appointment. 3) Go to mine and be blown away by awful news. 4) Return to pick up Brian because his eyes would be dilated. 5) Wipe tear-filled eyes and drive us home. All planned, but…

            In my heart, I wished Brian could be with me. After all, I was about to learn what kind of lung disease I had in more detail. But his glaucoma was not being nice, so we couldn’t postpone this appointment. We settled, instead, for a nice meal together and stopped before leaving to use the “necessary rooms.”

            “I’ll wait here and watch our doggy bag while you take your turn,” I said plopping on a lobby bench with my portable oxygen. “Then I’ll make a ‘pit stop.’”

            When Brian reappeared and picked up the bag, I added, “I can meet you at the car.” He headed out, and I went to “do what needed to be done.”

            As I washed my hands afterward, a lady stepped up to the sink on my left.

            “Hello,” I said and continued washing.

            “Hello,” she replied. “How’s your day going?”

            “All right,” I replied, although that probably wasn’t totally true, as I was anxious about my appointment, forthcoming bad news, and tricky timing of it all—but why dump that on a stranger? Instead, I asked, “How ’bout yours?”

            “I need prayer,” she said and seemed shaken.

            I stopped washing and turned toward her. “I’ll pray for you. What’s your name?”

            “Joy.”

            “Is there something specific you’d like me to pray about?”

            “Anything and everything,” she blurted, tearing a couple paper towels from the holder and handing me one of them. “What’s your name?”

            “Sarah.”

            “I’ll pray for you, Sarah.”

            “Thank you, Joy.” I dried my hands and tossed the paper towel into the trash. “And I’d be glad to pray for you,” I said as another lady entered the ladies’ room.

            “Did I hear someone say they’ll pray?” she asked, walking toward us.

            Joy turned her way. “Yes, we’re going to pray for each other.” A smile swept over her face.

            This lady also smiled. “I love the Lord and know He cares about both of you. I’ll pray for you gals also.”

            We learned her name was Amelia, and suddenly I found myself in her and Joy’s arms as we spontaneously hugged one another.

            Strangely, I felt some of my load lift, and I also smiled. I wish I’d prayed with them at that moment. I didn’t, feeling I needed to excuse myself and get to the car so we could arrive early for Brian’s appointment time.

            When I got into the car, I shared the experience with my hubby.

            “Did you tell them your prayer need?”

            “No. I just figured God already knew and would take care of it.”

            We left for Brian’s appointment which is generally long, arriving 30 minutes early. He asked the receptionist if it might be possible to be seen ASAP so he could accompany me to mine, the urgency of which he explained in a nutshell.

            “We’ll do our best,” the receptionist said.

            And she and everyone else involved did! In a half-hour, we were done, and I teared up, realizing God already intervened because we’d go to my appointment as a twosome.

            At mine, I didn’t receive the doom and gloom news I’d expected. No, it wasn’t all wonderful, but it held some promise.

            Brian nudged me as we waited to check out. “Our prayers were answered today.”

            And they were.

            All in all, the day I’d dreaded completely turned around, marked by that meeting of sister-strangers in a restaurant ladies’ room. A blessing, not only to me, but to those two women who shared a hug and a promise.

            I will keep this commitment, praying for Amelia and Joy. In time I may forget their names (my aging brain does that), but I hope I don’t forget to lift “whatever-their-names-were” in prayer. And may I remember that very special time in the “necessary room.”

            Sometimes God works in unexpected places and unplanned times. I think I needed those ladies at that moment, perhaps as much as Joy needed someone to pray for “anything and everything.”

            How ’bout I pray for you who stop by to read my jottings! In that prayer, I’ll ask God to use you, even in unexpected ways. And may you also encounter JOY…

            …perhaps an AMELIA too!

What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!

 

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged—Take it to the Lord in prayer!

Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness—Take it to the Lord in prayer!

 

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge—Take it to the Lord in prayer!

Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In His Arms he’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.

 

(from the hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” by Joseph Medlicott Scriven, 1855, public domain)

#doctorappointment #ophthalmologist #pulmonologist #time #prayer #burdens #FriendinJesus

Photo Credit—Ruth Voelker Burland (used with permission)