This is a story that shows how God works in our lives, providing for our future by directing our decisions and experiences, meant for our good.
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Consumed by my loss, I didn’t notice the hardness of the pew where I sat. I was at the funeral of my dearest friend — my mother. She had finally lost her long battle with cancer. The hurt was so intense, I found it hard to breathe at times.
Always supportive, mother had clapped loudest at my school plays, held a box of tissues while listening to my first heartbreak, comforted me at my father’s death, encouraged me in college, and prayed for me my entire life.
When mother’s illness was diagnosed, my sister had just given birth to a new baby and my brother had recently married his childhood sweetheart…so it fell on me, the 27-year-old middle child without entanglements, to take care of her. I considered it an honor.
“What now, Lord?” I asked sitting in church. My life stretched out before me as an empty abyss. My brother sat stoically with his face toward the cross while clutching his wife’s hand.
My sister sat slumped against her husband’s shoulder, his arms around her as she cradled their child. All so deeply grieving, no one noticed I sat alone.
My place had been with our mother as her care-giver— preparing her meals, helping her walk, taking her to the doctor, seeing to her medication, and reading the Bible together. Now she was with the Lord. My work was finished, and I was alone.
I heard a door open and slam shut at the back of the church. Quick footsteps hurried along the carpeted floor. An exasperated young man looked around briefly and then sat down next to me. He folded his hands and placed them on his lap. His eyes were brimming with tears.
He began to sniffle. “I’m late,” he explained, though no explanation was necessary. After several eulogies, he leaned over and whispered, “Why do they keep calling Mary by the name of Margaret?”
“Oh, because that was her name, Margaret…never Mary. No one called her Mary”, I whispered. I wondered why this person couldn’t have sat on the other side of the church. He interrupted my grieving with his tears and fidgeting. Who was this stranger anyway?
“No, that can’t be correct,” he insisted, as several people glanced over at us whispering, “Her name is Mary…Mary Peters.”
“That isn’t who this is,” I replied.
“Isn’t this the Lutheran church?”
“No, the Lutheran church is across the street.”
“Oh.”
“I believe you’re at the wrong funeral, sir.”
The solemnness of the occasion mixed with the realization of the man’s mistake bubbled up inside me and came out as laughter. I cupped my hands over my face, hoping it would be interpreted as sobs.
The creaking pew gave me away. Sharp looks from other mourners only made the situation seem more hilarious. I peeked at the bewildered, misguided man seated beside me. He was laughing, too, as he glanced around, deciding it was too late for an uneventful exit.
I imagined my mother laughing…she had a great sense of humor.
At the final “Amen,” we both left the church and went to the parking lot.
“I do believe we’ll be the talk of the town,” he smiled. He had missed his aunt’s funeral. He said his name was Rick, and he asked me out for a cup of coffee after I greeted other mourners with my brother and sister.
That afternoon began a lifelong journey for me with this man who attended the wrong funeral, but was in the right place.
A year after our meeting, we were married at a country church where he was the assistant pastor. This time we both arrived at the same church, right on time.
In my time of sorrow, God gave me laughter. In place of loneliness, God gave me love. This June Rick and I celebrated our twenty-second wedding anniversary.
Whenever anyone asks us how we met, Rick tells them, “Her mother and my Aunt Mary introduced us, and it’s truly a match made in heaven.”
- Author Unknown
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Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. Romans 8:28 NLT
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. Psalm 32:8 ESV
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If you liked this story and would like a copy of either of my books,
they are available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle format:
If you have a story or testimony that you think might bless others,
I invite you to send it by email to me (Kenneth Kersey) at godsotherways@me.com.
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