She said her name was Gracie! Like my granddaughter, Gracie!
My life is full of chance meetings with wonderful people.
My dear friend of 32 years and I were at a favorite restaurant of ours at Destin, and I went out on the back deck area to get some pictures of the beach. There was a light rain along with a brisk wind. I struggled to get my camera set to take a selfie when a young teen said, “We can take your picture if you want.”
That was a winning idea. As she took my picture for me, two adults were standing with her and another young teen. As we chatted, I learned the girls were best friends since they were three years and four.
“They met at church,” the dad of one of the girls said.
The mom chimed in, “And have been close ever since.”
She asked where I was from. “Mississippi,” I said.
“We just met a lady from Mississippi,” she exclaimed. “Is she your friend?”
“Yes, we’ve been friends many years,” I replied, and went on to tell her that we met as teachers and have kept in touch over the years.
“My husband is a pastor,” I added, “so we have lived in different places. I don’t have lifetime friends, but Teresa and I have kept our friendship alive. One thing is we are both Christians so that is a deep bond.”
“Yes,” the mom said with a big smile.
“You girls keep your friendship even though you may be separated as time goes on.” I added.
One of the girls came over to me and said she was part of a community mission group at church. “We help older people with things they have a hard time doing or need.”
The other girl chimed in, “Yes, and I want to be a photographer!”
The girl I was talking with more directly said, “I just want to be what God wants me to be.”
I was so delighted! I encouraged her and told her God’s will was the very best place to be and shared that I had been a missionary in Japan for two years. I asked her if I could pray for her. When she said her name was Gracie, I couldn’t believe it! The same as my granddaughter. I prayed for her, her future and her ministry.
Then she surprised me. For the first time, a person I had prayed for asked to pray for me. I was humbled and touched. She prayed earnestly and beautifully. As she ended her prayer, she asked for God to continue the revival “we are seeing in our country!”
“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.” (Acts 1:17)
Yes, Gracie, Lord Jesus, bring revival to us all!”
