I am a firm believer in the idea that everything happens for a reason.
Earlier this week I called my mom to see if she wanted to get lunch with me. I have been bringing lunch to work lately and I had packed lunch that day, but decided I would rather go out. When I got in the car she asked me where I wanted to go. I had a free meal at Cafe Rio but Chicken Express also sounded good, so we let Jensen decide and headed to Chicken Express. We pulled in the parking lot and the line looked like it was almost out the door so we almost left and went to Cafe Rio, but we decided to wait it out.
So, there we are eating our lunch when this man comes up to my mom and says, "Ma'am do you see how beautiful my children and grandchildren are?" "Well," points to me, "She will give you the same." After my mom thanks him he turns to me and says, "Don't ever settle. You deserve to have exactly what you want so don't settle just because your girlfriends have a boyfriend." My jaw just dropped. I was speechless. He then turns to my mom and continues to tell her not to let me settle and that I have the most beautiful eyes in all of Salt Lake. I still sat there in shock, because this stranger at Chicken Express on State Street had just told me exactly what I needed to hear.
We visited with him for a minute and after he left my mom turns to me and says, "I feel like that was a sign or something. I have been worried about you settling lately because you think you need to get married and I was just thinking about it yesterday." I couldn't agree more. There were so many different circumstances that led us to that Chicken Express. Had I decided I was just going to eat the lunch I packed or had we left and gone to Cafe Rio instead we never would have met that man. I have no doubt in my mind that I needed to be there.
The man upstairs knew that I was feeling like maybe I should just settle. But, now I know that I don't have to. The message may have come from the mouth of an old Greek man in a fast food restaurant but it was sent from someone else. Someone who knew that both my mom and I needed to hear what he had to say. Sometimes you need to see yourself through a strangers eyes to remember just how much greatness you deserve. I am so grateful for that little message that my Heavenly Father sent me.
To some this may seem like just a coincidence, but I believe that everything happens for a reason.
