We were just entering the church sanctuary when I heard the usher speak into her radio. "A kid just threw up. I’m going to need some help."

It caused me to do an about face and head out to the foyer. Yes indeed, the morning hadn’t started out well. We were running late for church which of course meant conversation with the children regarding responsibilities and timeliness. Once we got to the church parking lot, there wasn't a spot anywhere close, so we ended up walking a longer distance than usual which, MIND YOU, made us even later!

We are creatures of habit and sit in the same section of the sanctuary every week, but when I heard the usher’s words, it seemed like a good time to move to a new section. As a good Christian parent, I know my first thought should have been to pray for that child and his family, but no, in complete transparency, my only thought was, “We are NOT sitting here, in our usual section.” In one quick movement, I halted my crew at the door and did my best to steer them into another section. They all stared at me with baffled expressions that seemed to reflect, “Mom has completely lost it!” Since church had already started, once we were settled in our new section, I whispered the details to them. Their faces relaxed into expressions of understanding and relief.

It felt a bit awkward viewing the service from another location, but overall, the sermon was uneventful, except for the woman who arrived even later (imagine that!!!) and squeezed herself into a seat in the middle of the row. Something about her seemed off, so I kept glancing at her.

As church concluded, the pews emptied, but the single woman remained in her seat, and then slipped to her knees in an almost upright fetal position. I waited until everyone else left, and then moved over to join her. As I put my hand on her shoulder, she lifted her head with tear-filled eyes.

“Can I help you?” I asked. She poured out her heart, sharing the sadness bottled inside. We visited and prayed together until she had gathered her emotions. I offered to meet her for coffee and shared resources available at the church. After about ten minutes, we hugged each other and parted ways.

I never heard from her again, but the impact she had on me was much greater than any I could have had on her. It created one of those memories that sticks with you and resurfaces at random times, and when it does, I pause to pray for her.

What started off as a morning completely off track, ended up resulting in a cascade of lessons. Had we not been THAT late, we might have been the recipient of someone’s reverse breakfast. Had we not been THAT late, we might have missed sitting in the same row as a hurting young woman and thus, missed the privilege of praying with her. Finally, had we been in a hurry to hustle out of church and onto our next event of the day, we would surely have missed this woman’s need to be comforted.

God knows when and how things should unfold. Sometimes He gives us the most unusual signals, if only we are paying attention. Help was wanted on many levels that morning. If it took a child throwing up in church to plant me in a section where I could help comfort one of His lost, well, it just doesn’t get more creative than that, but why should that be a surprise? He is, after all, the God of creation. Genesis 1:1 “First this: God created the Heavens and Earth—all you see, all you don’t see.” (MSG)