Yesterday was a day of traveling, and although there were hours upon hours to write, I chose to not write but instead to read as I met and spoke with newfound friends.  Let me explain.

I now have the pleasure of sitting inside my daughter’s home in Germany.  Originally, I thought my travel plans would go like this:  Ride with a beautiful friend to LEX airport, catch the 1:52 flight to O’Hara, and then take the connecting 6pm flight to Frankfurt.  That was a great travel plan, and one I would have followed until the weather and a staff-shortage caused my first flight to be cancelled.  On Tuesday, I wrote about seeing God’s good among the difficulties of life, and then during my altered travel plans, God gave me firsthand the GOOD only God can provide.

After my cancellation Monday night, I arose early Tuesday morning to phone (again) the airlines, but to my dismay, the holding pattern continued, so I took my daughter’s advice and drove to the airport where I encountered two wonderfully, helpful souls:  the United airline employees who were willing to assist me in getting a new flight.

“Are you willing to drive?” one asked me.  Right then, I knew God’s hand had provided me an alternative travel plan AND I knew there was a decision (a CHOICE) to make.

God’s Word speaks of decision-making but do not believe me; READ with me & SEE.

“If the LORD is God,”

&

“but if Baal,”

The prophet Elijah knew the decision (a CHOICE) the people needed to make, and he also knew the correct choice they should make because Elijah knew the truth:  He knew the LORD Was & Is & Will Forever Be—God!

Nevertheless, the people would need to choose for themselves!

It’s the same with ALL Life Decisions.

As I looked at the United employee, my heart became excited because there WAS Hope for a new flight, as I replied, “Yes, of course.”

I knew God had a plan.  Enter Gretta, my young, new traveling friend.

After driving to the Louisville airport, I sat for a few hours, waiting for my flight to Houston (my NEW travel destination, one where I would catch my second flight to Frankfurt).  I was wearing my favorite mask—Campbellsville University when Gretta walked over to me and asked:  Is that Campbellsville University, the one here in Kentucky?  This young lady’s question began something beautiful.   God is so GOOD!!!  Everywhere we go, He provides us newfound friendships.  From Gretta’s first question, I learned she was a sixteen-year-old foreign exchange student traveling home to Germany, I learned she had lived in two host homes during her stay in America, I learned her new sport she tried while studying abroad, I learned how many years of high school remained once she returned, I learned she had two older siblings who also traveled abroad as students, and I learned her family was meeting her at the airport.  As you might be thinking:  How did you learn so much?  I learned a great deal because (if you know me at all) I ask a lot of questions.

We shared the next two flights.  Even though we were not seated side-by-side on the flights, we became fast-friends as we waited and talked together inside both the Louisville and Houston airports.  You know, traveling through life is so much sweeter when we travel with others.  The flight changes took on a whole new importance, and the race for the connecting international flight became more fun as we raced across the airport—TOGETHER.

Enter God’s provision again.  See with me the goodness of God.

After meeting and talking and racing across the airport, Gretta and I climbed aboard our second airplane (the one headed toward our final destination—Frankfurt).  Although we were not seat partners, still it was a joy to know we shared the same flight.  Twenty rows behind Gretta, I met Zainap and her beautiful family.  Again, I was wearing my favorite CU mask as I made my way to my seat.  Zainap, her husband, and her six-year-old daughter sat in the row with my empty seat on their left.  Now, the funny thing about flights is we each have a CHOICE—make an acquaintance or Not.  If you know me, I chose to talk to these new seat partners because we were about to share the next 9+ hours together.

In talking and observing, I learned that Zainap’s daughter was a reader, and not just of children’s books but of larger—chapter books.  I learned their destination, I learned why they were traveling to Milan, I learned about their home country and language, I learned about their daughter’s love for reading, I learned about their heritage, and I learned how long they had lived in America.  Again, you might be thinking:  how did you learn so much?  I learned a great deal because (if you know me at all) I ask a lot of questions.

God is so GOOD!!!  Everywhere we go, He provides us newfound friendships.  From Gretta’s first question & from Zainap’s first smile.

Yesterday was a wonderful day of traveling and friendships, one that I would never have experienced if my first travel plans had not been cancelled.  Before separating at the Frankfurt airport, we exchanged phone numbers, I had the pleasure of meeting Gretta’s family, and looking back on my cancellation, I wondered why I had to travel on a new flight plan, as I helped Gretta retrieve her luggage, now I knew why!

God provided me a way to share a gift with Zainap’s daughter.

As we taxied to the terminal, I felt the sense that I should give this six-year-old girl my brand-new copy of To Kill A Mockingbird.  Looking back, I wondered why I had made the purchase a few weeks ago; now I knew why!

Today, I end my writing with this beautiful note:  Since arriving at my daughter’s house, I have received a precious WhatsApp message and audio from one of my new friends.  In writing this story, I find myself smiling—

At the way God provides for us every single day,

At the images now forever engraved in my mind of my newfound friends,

&

At the truth of God’s Amazing Goodness!

In God’s Word, Jesus said,