Search This Blog

An Honest Account of Love, Grief and Walking With God
Finding God's Goodness in Life's Disappointments

Thursday, November 9, 2017

Divine appointments and answered prayer

Divine appointments and the power of prayer
Kathleen Maxwell-Rambie
Copyright October 2017

On August 3rd, 2017, we were on the island of Kauai in Hawaii, visiting my oldest son and his family. It was my grand daughter Collins’ fourth birthday and my daughter-in-law, Laura and I decided to take her to the spa at the St. Regis Hotel for a manicure and pedicure. We felt it was our  female obligation to introduce her the pampering herself, especially since my son and husband were playing golf most of the day.

While we were at the spa, we visited with the nail technician, Cindy, and I took a picture of her doing Collins’ nails. 

“When is your baby due?” Cindy asked my daughter-in-law.

“October 12th,” Laura replied.

“My sister-in-law was due October 27th but she delivered twins a few weeks ago at 27 weeks” Cindy said.

“Oh my, how are they doing?” I asked.

“Well, we lost one twin, Faith, but Hope weighed 1lb 8oz and is still fighting for her life, in Honolulu, at a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU),” Cindy continued.

My heart went out to her sister-in-law, who was living at the hospital taking care of her baby and grieving the loss of her twin. I know what it is like to live in hospitals and know what it is like to lose someone you love.

As believers, we are called to help those that are going through trials and share in their suffering.

“I will pray for Hope and your family,” I stated, and then offered up a silent prayer for this mother and her child.

“Lord, heal this mother’s heart and breathe life into Baby Hope,” I prayed as I left the spa.

Numerous times after our spa day, I prayed for this baby I did not know and her parents. I prayed that God would help her to live and grow and prayed strength and provision for her parents.

I am forever grateful for those who prayed for my late husband and me as he battled cancer. I wanted to give back to someone else in a tough situation.

On September 6th, my son Austin and his wife Laura, gave birth five weeks early, to my new grandson, Grant Robert Maxwell. Our precious new addition to the family was put in the NICU in Honolulu, HI, to receive careful monitoring since he was a premature and had some other complications.

“Mom, Laura and I need you to come out and help if you can, as soon as possible,” my son said, as we visited on the phone, shortly after Grant’s birth.

I was happy to help and had a flight booked in a couple of hours.

Several days after I arrived in Hawaii, I took Collins to a Sibling Tea, that was hosted by the March of Dimes, in the lobby of the NICU. I sat next to another grandmother and her daughter. 

As we enjoyed our tea, I overheard the young mother sitting on the other side of me tell someone she was from the island of  Kauai and had delivered twins in July. One little girl did not make it, but her daughter, Hope was doing alright, she stated.

Could this be the baby and family I had been praying for? 

“Excuse me, I overheard your conversation and do you have a relative that works at the St. Regis Hotel in Kauai?” I asked.

“Yes i do,” replied the young mother, with a puzzled look on her face.

“My name is Kathleen, does she work in the spa?” I continued.

“I am Jean and yes, my sister-in-law works in the spa as a nail technician,” my new friend stated.

“I’ve been praying for you and your baby Hope for the past month.” I said excitedly.

I quickly showed Jean a picture I had taken of her sister-in-law and my grand daughter that I had taken and Jean smiled, confirming this was her relative.

“God has his had on your little girl’s life and I cannot believe I am getting to meet you!” I exclaimed. 

“i call this a divine appointment and this is such an encouragement to me to pray.  God loves you and your baby so much and has had this lady praying for you in Texas,” I said.
My new friend, her mom and I visited for a while and I prayed with Jean, for healing and blessing over her little girl, Hope.

Jean invited me to come see her baby, meet her husband, and I cannot tell you the joy I felt seeing this tiny baby that was now doing well and growing. Baby Hope weighed over 3 lbs and before I left to come back to Texas, she weighed 4 lbs. 

“Come back and pray again. Your prayers change the atmosphere and make it peaceful,” Jean said.

Often times we pray for people and we do not get to see the answers to our prayers. God was so kind to orchestrate things and let me meet this precious family. 

I still pray for my new friend and her baby, Hope. Jean sends me pictures and updates on her daughter and I am honored to intercede on their behalf.

My grandson Grant, is now out of the NICU and doing well and  I am back in Texas. Meeting Jean and Hope and experiencing this divine appointment has encouraged me in my faith and given me a new excitement to pray for others. 

Hope is now up to 6 lbs. 14 oz. and is still in the NICU. I talked to her mom the other day and she is hoping to take her home any day now.

The Bible instructs us to pray for others and share in their suffering. Who can you pray for today? Who needs you to take a few minutes of your day and invest in the life of those around you? I want to encourage you to be sensitive to God and pray for situations you encounter. And remember, you never know when you might have a divine appointment and get to see the answers to those prayers.


No comments:

Post a Comment