An Appointed Time

Our kitten Tator was sick and getting worse.

I called my husband, Ron, and asked if he would take him back to the emergency vet in the city, nearly an hour away. I brought the kitten down and gave it to my husband. He then began the long drive to the vet. Then I had some time on my hands because I had two hours before my first appointment. I drove around a bit and talked with God about how to use this extra time. He impressed me to find my friend Martha at her work.

So I pulled into the parking lot and went to her office, but she was not there. As I began to leave, I received a phone call from my friend Melanie.

She reminded me that today was the first anniversary of the death of Martha’s granddaughter, who had been killed in a terrible accident.

I had forgotten. Then I knew why God impressed me to find her. Martha pulled into the parking lot, and I got out of my car and waved.

She opened her window to greet me and then invited me to sit with her. As I joined her I prayed that God would give me the right words to say to my friend. At first we talked about general things, and then I said, “This day must be very difficult for you.” She looked at me with tears in her eyes and said, “Yes, this is one of the most difficult days of my life.” She began to review that terrible day a year before. We sat together for over an hour as she talked, and I mostly listened. Then we prayed together.

She was much encouraged to have a friend listen to her pain and suffering and to pray with her. What a privilege it was for me. It is so encouraging to realize how attentive God is to the needs of His daughters. He is always leading and directing our lives, day by day. We must listen to His still, small voice and respond. God needs us to be His hands, feet, and voice. It is a humbling experience to realize His specific timing in our lives.

Tator’s emergency provided the gift of time with Martha, and the medical intervention saved Tator’s life. He is now happy and healing.

This precious time happened in God’s appointed time.

“I have seen the God-given task with which the [daughters] of men are to be occupied. He has made everything beautiful in its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:10, 11, NKJV).

Sharon Follett