Butterfly Effect

This morning I went to a meeting and shared about the experience of meeting the young girl whose mother had just committed suicide. It was such a shocking story that the whole room gasped when I told of the girl telling me her mom died. I didn't know why I told them that this morning. There was no reason...

Later this afternoon, a man who had been at the meeting called me. He asked me if I wanted to know "the rest of the story." Of course I did. That girl hasn't been out of my thoughts for five minutes since Tuesday afternoon. My friend who happened to be at the meeting this morning went to college with the woman who is recently deceased and her husband, the father of the girl. He told me lots of things about them both - fondly. Fond recollections of lifetime friendships. And the little girl... as I thought, she sounds like a wonderful little person, who may be greatly burdened by genetics and family history. My friend spoke of her fondly as well. He told me about the last time they spent any time together - it was just a few months ago.

He said it was a blessing to her to have run into me and my daughter at such a time. Oh, I hope so. It was a blessing to me to have been able to be there. I am grateful for that.

Oh, how I wish I could do better. How I wish I could always be the loving person I believe God wants me to be. How I wish I didn't have this acerbic "wit" that's always so quick to respond - long before I have considered that I don't wish to wound.

I went to a small meeting in a large city and somehow found a friend who is a friend to all of these people. It is almost beyond belief.

I thank God that on that day, by the Grace of God, instead of complaining about the inconvenience of sitting in traffic for an hour, I was talking about praying for whatever victim might have been. I thank God that I said nothing disrespectful today when I had no idea I was talking to anyone who was involved - because my friend is clearly in a lot of pain over this.

We really never know who is listening to us and how we are effecting them. I only know that I want the effect to be a good one.

By the Grace of God....