God's perfect timing...

I just got in last night from a full week at the Catholic Marketing Network and Catholic Writer's Guild conference held at the Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia, Pa.

I got a pretty good night's sleep but had to get up early since my daughter was leaving on a little trip this morning. After we bid "good bye," I unpacked my bag and put a load of laundry in the washer. I washed some dishes that my dear hubby left in the sink and straightened the house up a bit.

It was then about 11:40 AM and the Post Office closes at noon. I wanted to get an important package in the mail and off to my eldest daughter which meant I would need to leave right away. I got our dog in the house and grabbed the package I needed to send, locked the door and high-tailed it to the car. I wondered if it was worth it to drive all the way into town only to find the Post Office door locked. I decided I'd take the chance anyway and felt a very strong prodding to leave everything and go.

I pulled into the parking lot of the Post Office and sprinted to the door. I got in the door just before the woman locked it. I waited in line and mailed off the package. I wanted to get right home to catch up on even a little of the work that was waiting for me since I was away all week.

But, instead of taking a right towards home, I make a quick decision to turn left so I could stop at a little shop to get something for my husband. When I went into the store, the woman there seemed a bit distressed. She was telling the customer in front of me that she felt she was experiencing an out-of-body experience because of what she was undergoing. She seemed thoroughly exhausted.

I asked if she needed a good night's sleep.

"No," she paused, "I need more than that."

"Are you taking vitamins?"

"Yes."

"Strong ones?" I asked.

"I need more than that," she said.

I knew in my heart that it was prayer she needed.

The customer in front of me left. I approached the counter with my two items. As she rang me up, she told me that her husband needs open heart surgery and that he has to have a valve transplant and it was scheduled for a week from now. He was hanging on a thread she said that he could not survive in that condition for very long. But he had to have dental surgery before undergoing the heart surgery.

As she was explaining her husband's situation, I was reaching into my purse to see if my some miracle I had a blessed Miraculous medal left. I had brought some with me to the conference and had given them out to people I knew there and to people I felt God wanted me to give them to.

I was delighted to find that I had JUST ONE left! I pulled it out and explained to the woman that I wanted to give her something and that she didn't need to accept it, but I wanted to give it to her for her husband. I pulled out the medal and touched it to the one I wear which was given to me by Blessed Mother Teresa (a relic). I then told her that when I was in Rome I had placed the blessed medal on Blessed Pope John Paul II's tomb and also on Blessed Mother Teresa's bed where she slept when stayed at the convent in Rome. I had been given permission to do both.

I placed it into her hand and I said that it was meant for her husband. She burst into tears and came around the counter and gave me the biggest hug. She squeezed me so tight and thanked me profusely.

The door opened and a couple of customers came in. I waited around and decided to TEXT my daughter and ask her for prayers for this woman and her husband. After the customers left the woman and I talked a little more. I told her that earlier I wasn't even sure if I was going to make it to the Post Office before it closed so I had even thought I might not go until Monday. Then, after the Post Office, I made a quick decision to stop at her shop instead of going straight home. It was clearly meant to be I thought. She seemed to think so too. I told her that I would put her husband on prayer lists and ask people to pray for him.

I asked her if she minded if I ask if she had a religion. She said she was Catholic but hadn't been to Church in a long time. She said her husband didn't really have a religion or at least none he practiced. I told the woman that I would bring her a medal the next time I came in.

Please keep this couple in your prayers. The husband's surgery is scheduled for a week from Monday. I believe that Our Lord is working on this couple and the Blessed Mother is interceding. I hope and pray that he decides to wear the blessed Miraculous medal.

So, let's see, what's the date the Monday after this? It's August 15th, the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary!