Always amazing to me how God’s best work is most evident at our worst or weakest moments.  Happened again today…

I  was in a crappy mood.  Totally stressed and on the verge of tears.  I went to visit my daughter Abby at the coffee shop she works at.  I set up my computer to get some work done.  The stupid thing was not cooperating and was spitting crazy things out all over the place, my cursor out of control.  This only added to my irritation with the day.  I didn’t want to talk to anyone for fear of crying.

Up walks my friend Jon.  I met him a few years ago at Home Depot and we’ve been friends since.  Sweet guy.  He came up all cheery and asked how I was doing.  I honestly answered that I’d had better days.  After offering to dance (which did make me laugh) he pulled me up into a big hug.  That was it, and the tears began their descent.  Great.  Way to cause a scene at the local coffee spot.

We talked for a few minutes and I returned to my computer, not really able to focus, but trying to keep busy.  Another regular customer came in.  His name is Joe.  We are pretty certain that this is not his real name.  He is one of the local cowboys.  He comes daily, usually bringing his dog with him.  He always has a huge smile and leaves the place with everyone else smiling, too.  It is clear that he has lived through a lot in life.  And that he is thankful to be alive.

He came over to my table to tell me goodbye on his way out, saying that he was sorry I was having a rough day (he must have seen the tears).  He took my hand and said, “The sun is always shining, even when we can’t see it through the clouds.  It’s always there.”  And then he sat down and we talked for the next 45 minutes or so.  The sad tears quickly dried up and were replaced with happy ones, as I realized that God had orchestrated this precious moment with the most unlikely character to show Himself to me and to use me to show Him to this man.  I came into the coffee shop expecting nothing and knowing that I had nothing to offer to anyone today.  And that is when God stepped in and said, “I have something for both of you, today.’   A divine appointment.  And I was able to share Jesus with this man who is so loved by God.   Hugely humbling…

I didn’t get a lick of work done.  But I left the coffee shop with a smile on my face and in my heart.  God dressed as a cowboy today…