One day about 4 years ago, I was standing in line at the CVS in our very small town. There were two older women behind me. Being such a small town, it was unusual that I didn’t know the lady right behind me. I did know the other, though.

I had already spoken to the lady I knew and was minding my own business waiting for my turn at the register.

The lady I knew mentioned how beautiful the baby was in the photos the other lady had printed. She said thank you very quietly and then said that it was her granddaughter who had died the day before. She was on her way to her daughter’s house and wanted to print a few of the pictures she had of her. Her voice was shaking and it was obvious she was trying to hold it together.

Then I heard the lady I knew say, “Jana might have some words of comfort for you. Her son died a few years ago and really touched the lives of everyone in town who knows her family.”

When I turned around, the grandmother just started openly crying and hugged me. We talked for a few minutes and she told me how worried she was about her daughter – that she was so very sad. I shared with her some things her daughter was going through and how she could help comfort her.

I remember her giving me a smile through her tears before she left. She thanked me for talking to her and I told her that I would keep her in my thoughts and prayers… that her daughter would be ok and that time and love would help mend her broken heart.

Back in my car, I cried and wondered what had put me right there in that minute. I never went to CVS and yet, that day, I had to go. Why was I there?

I’m a people person. I love to have conversations with complete strangers. I’m very much like my mother in that sense and it drives my very shy husband insane! I find more and more that when I have these random encounters, there is a thread that makes me know that I was supposed to be right there in that very minute.