A few weeks ago my wife and I had the privilege of traveling to Michigan…it was our first flight with our little ones also. I was going to lead worship for a conference and was bringing the family with me, to spend time with our family there. (this blog post has a few dimensions – I’ll apologize for the length of it now)
To keep the story moving – we got to the airport in Houston with more than enough time (usually) to get through all security and baggage deals. Well. We ended up in a line to end all lines. We waitied for 2 hours to check our luggage. The whole while – I was feeling a little anxious. You see our daughter is 3 years old now. And I had been told that as long as she sat on our lap – she would be free for the flight. The day before we left, I started feeling concerned that we would not be able to do that and feared having to purchase a last minute flight to get our daughter on the plane…which would be money I didn’t have to spend.
While in the ridiculous line to check our luggage, we meet a wonderful young couple. They were there, not to fly anywhere, but to send off her parents, who had been in town getting treatment for cancer. We spoke of family, how horrible an ordeal cancer is, and how we had all ended up in Houston.
We told them goodbye as our flight was preparing to board, and we were preparing to check our bags, finally. Everything was going fine and normal, until the lady behind the counter looked at our kids and asked, “how old is your daughter?”. She then informed us that as soon as a child turns 2 years old, they are a full price ticket for a flight, because they must have their own seat. Quickly, Ashley and I tried to figure out what to do. Do we hand over the credit card and hope it all works out somehow? Do I end up traveling alone and Ashley pack the kids back up and go back home and not on the trip?
But almost as quickly as we freaked out, the guy who we had met in line, walks up, puts his hand on my shoulder and hands his credit card to the lady behind the counter. In shock and confusion, I say “no way man…you don’t have to do that”. With a BIG smile on his face he looks at us and says…”You don’t always know how you can be a blessing to someone…but we overheard, saw the need, and we want to bless you”. WOW. As we take care of the details of getting the flight booked, this couple goes on to tell us how they really felt God prompt them and they believe there is a reason we need to travel to Michigan together.
To keep the story moving – we end up making it to our flight. Which is amazing. We get to our gate and they were holding for us and one other family. We were in our seats for about 2 minutes before they plane pulled away from the gate. GOD works out details!
Ash and I just sat there on the flight – teary eyed – thinking…what just happened? Was that for real? We could not even begin to express how much we felt God’s touch from the couple we JUST met in the airport.
BLOG POINT #1 – Keep your eyes open for ways you can be a blessing to someone around you. You never really know how a small thing from you, can go a really long way to someone else.
Here’s where it gets awesome…or awesomer. The next day, we’re in Michigan – (Kids were great on the flight, everything was smooth, eat at Mexican fiesta when we landed…bliss) – I’m in the lobby of the hotel where the conference is that I’m leading at. I get a phone call from my family that I have been dreading for a year. My Aunt Linda had passed away. After 1 year of battling brain cancer, 1 year of astounding doctors, friends, family, and strangers with her faith, and a lifetime of burning like a forest fire for Jesus…my aunt was restored and ushered into one crazy party in heaven.
I get the word that the funeral will be that coming Wednesday in Springfield, MO. I spend some time crying, talking to Ashley…thanking God for healing my Aunt…and I realize. If that couple hadn’t blessed us by purchasing a flight for my daughter, we would not be together as we get this news…and we would not have been able to go to the funeral together.
Whoa. My Mom and Aunt had said through her whole journey – “God is the God of details”…to which, I say, Amen.
The Point of this ridiculously long blog – Love Big – or Go Home. Ashley and I are forever touched by the random act of love from the couple in the airport. We are forever impacted and touched by the love we felt personally from Linda Noble as well as from being witnesses of her huge LOVE for Jesus. My Aunt’s favorite verse is Matthew 5:16 “…let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” – The more we Love the brighter our light shines. And the brighter we shine, the more clear the people around us will see Jesus.
My prayer for you and for me…as oddly as I can put it…is that you will catch on fire.
Jimmy
Beautiful, Jimmy. Not too long at all. Thank you so much for sharing this.