Never Really Alone Single Mom, by Teri Worten

I arranged a lunch?

The guilt set in. Like most people after the Holiday season, I’ve incurred a little debt with the Holiday shopping. My goal is to pay it down before the spring season arrives. That meant I had to tighten my belt dramatically. It didn’t concern me very much, because my bills were paid and I was on a mission to decrease that debt. Still, the new budget left little room for expensive indulgences such as unnecessary shopping or splurging on expensive lunches. To make matters worse, the week before, I went out with a group of folks from church and was led to “pick up” part of the check for the group. So it was exceedingly imperative that I “tighten” my belt for the last two weeks of the month and I was determined to do it.

Now, Karen is so understanding, and also a single mom, so I could have easily explained my conundrum to her and asked her to come over my house to share what God had given her. But you know the scripture... “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak”! Plain and simply put, I really wanted to go out to eat and enjoy good food prepared by someone else's hands!

That's not all...

Not only did I have to worry about adjusting my budget as a result of lunch with Karen that day, but I remembered that I'd promised treat a young friend to a nice lunch the next day. So, I was really shelling out quite a bit of cash on food in a short two day period. Karen is so sweet, that she would have easily understood my predicament and probably even picked up both our lunches. But I trusted God, because He knew my heart and how much I want to be a blessing to others. It wasn’t as if I was splurging on a pair of $200 shoes, simply a lunch that I could in reality afford.

During the lunch, I was having nothing short of a 'ball' spending time with Karen and hearing the wonderful plans God has for my new project. Just when I thought my day couldn’t get much better, one of my favorite people in the world walked into the restaurant with her husband. In my child-like excitement, I ran towards her and gave her a big hug. I love her so dearly. My friend is a pastor’s wife and carries an awesome anointing. I don’t know many people that love God the way she does, so genuinely and sincerely. To me she’s a spiritual mentor, a big sister in the Lord and a friend. I was tickled pink when the waitress seated them at a table right behind ours.

The four of us shared updates, giggles and testimonies of God’s power and wonder. During the conversation with the both of them, I realized that eagles can travel in pairs! As I'd mentioned, I was well-acquainted with half of this awesome couple, but after sharing time with them both, I became equally fond of her husband. Not only did I see God in His eyes, but there was something about him reminded me of my dad who has gone on to be with the Lord. My dad’s warmth and charm made him one of those people who was just a joy to know. He had many, many friends and like me, never met a “stranger”. Even more exciting, my dad found the Lord shortly after I did. He illuminated the love of Christ, just like my friend's husband.

While the four of us [kind of] shared lunch together, I was so grateful to God for allowing us all to see one another that day. As we were chatting, I thought of how God springs such wonderful little “surprises” on us just to brighten our day. But God’s grace wasn’t finished with me yet. I was so busy talking that I didn’t even notice that our check hadn’t arrived. As we continued chatting, I noticed Pastor signing off on two checks. I then realized that God had led them to bless Karen and I by paying for our lunches too! I was overwhelmed. You see, Pastor and his lovely wife didn’t know that I was on a tight budget this month. But God knew and He remembered. Then I felt my heavenly Father kiss my spirit and remind me that I’m never alone in this thing called life.

Like me, you’re never alone either. Those little things that seem like “problems” God is already working out. All we have to do is obey and be sensitive to His Holy Spirit. We need to be where He says be and do what He says do. We need to share when He says share. Remember that He is strategically, sometimes secretly, working everything out on the other end of heaven for your good.

Karen and I left that restaurant praising God for His goodness and his kindness toward us. On that day, I was invigorated by wonderful fellowship, Karen met two wonderful new friends and I think we were all tickled pink by God’s kindness and thoughtfulness toward us that Saturday afternoon.