“God Puts People Places”
I thought I would share about my absence this past couple weeks. My family and I live in Albania where medical care is no more than basic. My son had been sick for some time with a low grade fever and general grumpiness. He then developed a few very swollen glands that were hard to the touch. We visited a couple of doctors here who decided to fly us to London within one night’s notice to see a specialist. My son was admitted to the hospital immediately for intervenes antibiotics for infected lymph nodes. I was distressed once I was informed that I had to be away from my daughter and husband for two weeks alone in a place I had never been with a sick child while six months pregnant. Well, to my surprise, my in-laws from the states were conveniently visiting London on business at the same time! My mother-in-law subsequently was able to stay for my entire visit there. My own mother warned me not to take this coincidence for granted. ”God puts people places,” she said. Pondering further on her comment I grew tears in my eyes in gratitude for the people God has put in place in my life to help me overcome or make up for my many weaknesses. I also wonder what places He has put me in order to be of help or comfort for others. I hope to be more in tune to recognize opportunities to be there for others.
August 9th, 2006 07:48
Very true. I’ve seen this sort of divinely sorted co-incidence happen on many occasions.
August 9th, 2006 07:55
How’s your son doing? Bill had a kidney stone when we were in Canada and it was awful being in another country with a sick loved one.
I agree that God puts us lots of places to help each other. I guess the trick is being aware.
August 9th, 2006 08:00
There was a talk in my ward a couple of weeks ago that was on the very same thing. The mother so grateful for a woman that sat next to her and her very ill son on a plane. This lady was able to get things for this child that the mother could not. Someone put in the right place at the right time.
August 9th, 2006 08:37
I hope all is well. I am glad you got some help when you needed it.
Unfortunately, I am feeling lately that not all thing placed near us are blessings, some may be trials. Hopefully it is all for the best.
Thanks for your thoughts.
August 9th, 2006 10:04
This story brought tears to my eyes and a lump to my throat. Clearly God was in this. It reminds me of Elder Bednar’s talk on tender mercies — he mentioned three times that it is often the timing of things that lets us know when a tender mercy is at work.
I hope as well that all is well.
August 9th, 2006 12:43
Jen: Amen, sister.
Sometimes those “divine appointments,” as I call them, happen without the conscious effort of either of the parties; they just work out. Sometimes, the Lord uses the Spirit to prompt one or both parties to be at a certain place at a certain time.
Here’s a cool story of a lady preacher named Beth Moore who was prompted to brush a wheelchair-bound man’s hair for him at an airport. Here
and here, and here. (In case any of those links break).
I dare ya’ll to read that and not tear up.
August 9th, 2006 13:14
I was just thinking similarly. I helped a family I home teach this week with some car and health problems. The husband is 400 miles away working for the time being.
A few weeks ago the family car broke down, the alternator went bad. The sister I home teach went to the car parts store and purchased the alternator. A man (complete stranger) asked her if she had anyone to put it in for her. She said no.
This fellow came to her house to install it, found that it was the wrong part, drove across town to the warehouse to exchange it, brought it back and finished the installation.
Now part of me was kind of freaked out at the dark possibilities involved in having a random stranger come to your house, but the reality was that his only intention was kind-hearted service.
It’s pretty amazing the way Heavenly Father puts things together to take care of us when we need it.
August 9th, 2006 14:34
I’m on some errands, and stopped at a library branch, and am writing this at the library computer. While waiting in line to get a computer, I heard two men speak a foreign language. I asked, and they said Romanian. I ran out to my car and got a Romanian and an English Book of Mormon for them. Coincidence?
August 9th, 2006 15:14
6,
Yeah, well, I took you up on your challenge.
I lost.
August 9th, 2006 19:30
Here’s another story about Heavenly father using one lady as an answer to a prayer of another lady. http://www.mahonri.org/story/2006/5/23/10448/5672
August 9th, 2006 22:08
Eric:
“Unfortunately, I am feeling lately that not all thing placed near us are blessings, some may be trials.”
Never forget that the trials are blessings, too. This life is about growth and progression, remember?
August 9th, 2006 22:12
Jen, I’m glad you’re back home, that your son was able to get the care he needed, and that you were so miraculously blessed with the presence of family at such a time in such an unlikely place.
August 10th, 2006 05:10
Jen, What a beautiful example of how the Lord helps us in our times of trouble. I, too, am grateful that your son got needed medical care, and that your family is now safely back together. Your post also prompts me to try harder “to be more in tune to recognize opportunities to be there for others.”
Eric, I once heard one of the Seventy give a talk on the theme of how we don’t always recognize which events are ultimately “blessings” until years later. Occasionally what seems a terrible event at the time, may actually end up as a “blessing,” in the sense that it precipitates choices which change our life in a positive way. I hope what you are going through now has some good consequences down the road.
August 10th, 2006 11:06
I completely agree!!
The miraculous series of “coincidences” that led us to this ward and, eventually, to reactivity are too numerous to mention. Later, a woman moved into our ward who happened to have a grown son who had OUR newborn sons’ exact same kidney defect. She had a wonderful calming influence on us. Other things that have happened in my life lead me to believe that there really are no coincidences, it just takes work to recognize what they are.
I recomend a book titled “Good Deeds” from Deseret Books. They say it’s about sevice and charity, but what would those who recieved the help say? Wonderful coincidence perhaps?
August 19th, 2006 08:06
My comment is way after the fact, but I am a FIRM believer that God wants to put everyone (or attempts to, if they’ll listen) in places where they will grow and he will use them.
Why is it that people find jobs in seemingly less-than-ideal spots, but then absolutely love the area? I believe it’s God performing the equivalent of “mission transfer”.
Now, I know that many people say, “Well, God just doesn’t care where I live - he’ll use me wherever I go”. That’s true, to a point. But it also shows that they’re not willing to be open about asking God where they should live.
I really hate it when people talk like, “Well, I was raised here and that’s where my family is so we’re going to stay here.” But what if God really, really wants you in North Dakota, because you would be a bishop there?”