{"id":28964,"date":"2022-09-12T14:00:43","date_gmt":"2022-09-12T20:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/baonline.cog7engage.net\/?p=28964"},"modified":"2023-08-29T11:33:49","modified_gmt":"2023-08-29T17:33:49","slug":"meant-to-be","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/baonline.cog7engage.net\/meant-to-be\/","title":{"rendered":"Meant to Be"},"content":{"rendered":"

A light blue Volkswagen Beetle backed into the empty space next to my car in the medical parking lot. A middle-aged man got out of it. \u201cThat\u2019s a nice car,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

He smiled. \u201cIt\u2019s a 2014.\u201d We compared notes on VW\u2019s we had owned, and then our conversation turned to family. \u201cI have ten grandkids!\u201d he proudly declared. \u201cAnd my twelve-year-old granddaughter is coming for the weekend. I was telling my wife I should go buy a cookbook to use with my granddaughter and teach her to cook. I think that\u2019s better than just watching TV the whole time.\u201d<\/p>\n

I couldn\u2019t help smiling. \u201cLook what I have.\u201d I pulled out a copy of my new cookbook for grandmothers.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAre you Lydia<\/em>?\u201d he asked, looking at my name on the cover. I nodded and handed him food samples to\u00a0taste from recipes\u00a0in my book.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you going to write a cookbook for grandpas too?\u201d He took a bite of a buttery cookie.<\/p>\n

I shook my head. \u201cNo. Grandfathers can use this book as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, good!\u201d He smiled and handed me a donation for the book. \u201cOur meeting was meant to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe cookbook also includes Scripture verses and ideas to chat about while you cook with your granddaughter.\u201d I read him an example from the book.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s nice,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have four ministers in our family, and I used to attend church.\u201d He paused. \u201cI\u2019ve gotten away from that. But my granddaughter goes to church, and she\u2019s trying to get her family to start attending too.\u201d<\/p>\n

The man said again, \u201cOur meeting was meant to be.\u201d Looking toward the medical offices, he said, \u201cMy wife recently developed back problems and is having an MRI. She may need surgery.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u201d I looked at the pink and purple rubber band bracelet on my wrist that my granddaughter Anna had made. \u201cWould your wife like a bracelet like this? I use mine to remind me to pray for my grandkids.\u201d<\/p>\n

He looked surprised. \u201cThose are her colors!\u201d As I gave him the bracelet, I asked, \u201cAre you a praying man?\u201d<\/p>\n

He looked down. \u201cNot really,\u201d he said quietly.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe you\u2019ll become one.\u201d<\/p>\n

I sensed a nudge to continue the conversation, so I shared the ten-word gospel from my book with him. Then I prayed for his wife\u2019s health, for a wonderful time with his granddaughter, and for all of them to draw closer to Jesus.<\/p>\n

He echoed my \u201camen\u201d at the end and gave me a hug. \u201cThank you. This was meant to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

I turned toward my car. \u201cBy the way, what\u2019s your name?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m Bill.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGlad to meet you, Bill.\u201d<\/p>\n

In that moment I realized yes, in God\u2019s divine providence, Bill\u2019s and my meeting was not a coincidence. It was definitely<\/em> meant to be.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A light blue Volkswagen Beetle backed into the empty space next to my car in the medical parking lot. A middle-aged man got out of it. \u201cThat\u2019s a nice car,\u201d I said. He smiled. \u201cIt\u2019s a 2014.\u201d We compared notes on VW\u2019s we had owned, and then our conversation turned to family. \u201cI have ten […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":307,"featured_media":28965,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sync_status":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","castos_file_data":"","podmotor_file_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[44,2179],"tags":[87,2297,2295,2294,1980,2296],"yoast_head":"\nMeant to Be - Bible Advocate<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In that moment I realized yes, in God\u2019s divine providence, Bill\u2019s and my meeting was not a coincidence. 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