He knows.

I wasn't going to blog again this week, but I really want to share this before the details fade.  A few days ago, in a post called "A cup of Friendship", I told you I had plans to have coffee with a sweet friend.  We got together on Tuesday, and our time together encouraged and refreshed me so much, I wanted to share it with you all.  

My friend Shayla and I arrived at our local coffee house at about the same time.  As I got out of my car, I saw that she was carrying a beautiful package, all bright and flowery and tied up with curly ribbon.  Hmmm.... We ordered our coffee (her treat!) and settled in at the shop's comfortable couches.  We chatted easily, like good friends do, even though it's been a while since we had more than a few minutes to talk.  I enjoyed my delicious coffee (you're right, Stephen, the Columbian is the best!) and we caught up on our summers, travels, kids, just life. 

I was still wondering why she would bring me a present, when she invited me to open it.  Inside the cheery wrappings was the beautiful quilt in the photo above. It's personal-sized, just right for keeping me warm on movie nights at home, and it's my favorite color...purple!  She made it just for me, and there's a hand lettered label on the inside. It says:

This quilt was made for

Leslie Oden

by

Shayla Erskine

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up."

1 Thessalonians 5:11

This was a very personal, very thoughtful gift.  But that's not the most amazing part of the story.  What Shayla could not possibly have known as she lovingly pieced the quilt together, long before that August Tuesday, was that last week was going to be one of the most difficult in recent memory for me.  She couldn't have known how much I needed the comfort of coffee and conversation with her on that morning.  She couldn't have known I needed encouragement, almost as much as I needed air. But God knew.  And He knew He could inspire my friend to create this beautiful gift, and give it to me on a day when I needed to know He was still listening.  As I left the coffee shop and started home, I felt Him whisper to my heart "I know. It's going to be okay. I'm with you." Thank You, Father, for knowing me like no one else does, and for always being more than enough. 

Prayer for Today: Dear Father, help me to be sensitive to Your leading when you prompt me to share a word of encouragement. Use me to remind someone You care.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Today's Verse: "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV