When he arrived back at Clarehouse, he found his mother gone from this world just moments before. His minister, there, offered a few words at the bedside and read from Psalm 121.
On Wednesday, May 6th, I went to Sonic and the carhop, Mario, related the story of the generous tip to me, attributing the gift to my girl. I wrote about it that evening without knowing the details of May 4th as just described. Here is that entry: http://t.co/4zrUdZP2eI
Early morning Thursday, this man's wife awakened her husband in the dead of night and read the blog entry about the tip. When she reached the bottom of the entry and read the lines "and we look toward the hills for his light - he will always come; for our help comes from the Lord." and the scripture I listed, Psalm 121, the man told his wife for the first time that his minister had read Psalm 121 at his mother's bedside just after her passing. The man realized that 30 minutes after he had given from his heart to Mario, his mother passed from this life to the next.
As a friend of the family, I attended the funeral for this man's mother and met with his family later that evening. HIs wife has been my friend for almost thirty years. It wasn't until dinner that I learned of the events leading up to the 100$ tip this man, left for Mario - that my friend's husband was Mario's generous benefactor. Even though I wrote about it on Wednesday, I didn't know the whole story I am telling until Thursday. As she told me the details about the scripture the minister read at her mother-in-law's bedside, the same scripture I had listed Wednesday about her husband's gift, I sat speechless.
My meager words fail to convey the presence of we felt. Though I've given this post significant thought, I am falling short of recreating the mystery of grace we unveiled.
These are two families who don't know why their loved ones had to be the ones to go and yet, even in our grief and questions, we are connected by the simple truth that God is in control.
A diet coke with lime.
A smile.
A heart that remembers a vibrant red-headed girl.
A blog that champions his kindness.
A friend that rewards the kindness.
A birthday present given in love.
A blog that celebrates the kindness and in doing so, unwittingly, honors a mother revered.
Random acts by chance or a coordination of gentle grace?
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him..." Romans 8:28
My prose disappoints me - that's okay. My friend and I know who holds us and why thirty years ago God let us meet pool side on summer day. Our God may have wanted the circumstances to be different surrounding why we would need each other in our twenty-ninth year of friendship - but he provided for us nevertheless.
I think we all want to do more to #golighttheworld.
********
There's one more day in trial occurring in Mobile, Alabama - for the family walking through this nightmare before us. Monday should be the final day. Thanks for holding them close. I am positive God connected this mother and I for our good. Your prayers will go the distance and help them accept the outcome of the trial and one more day without their girl. #KNW