Candice

I am blessed to meet so many different people at my work. They all have their own stories and it’s always interesting to hear them and learn more about them.

At the beginning of the week I received a call from a lady named Candice. She was inquiring about the cost of taking a trip to Hawaii. I gathered the details and sent her the quotes. Later she asked if she could make an appointment to discuss the details and finalize the trip.

Candice was going to go by herself because she needed some time to just breathe and feel and respond to her feeling without worrying that someone else might get uncomfortable if she cried or that they might question her reasons for simply sleeping in and taking naps.

She cautiously mentioned that her son had passed away a year ago and she was struggling with losing him. Her friends kept a close watch on her to make sure she was doing alright, but she just needed some time to herself. But at the same time she wanted to make sure she could call if she needed help or had questions.

She asked if I thought see was crazy and assured her she wasn’t. I told her that I understood because I too had lost a son. I gave her my business card and said she call if she needed anything. Immediately she smiled and asked if she could show me a picture. Her son’s headstone had just been delivered that morning and she wanted to show someone.

We talked about her son for a little while and you could see the love and pride she had for him. Then she straightened her shoulders and said, “I can do this. I need to do this.”

I saw her yesterday at the mall and she looked at me with one of those wondering looks of either, “I’ve seen that person before or I wonder if they will remember me.” I think I had the same look on my face.

Then I went up to her and asked if she was getting ready for her trip. She smiled a beautiful smile and said “Yes.” I commented on her hair because she had told me in the office she was thinking of getting it colored before she left and it turned out very nice. Again I saw her beautiful smile and her face light up when she said, “You remembered.”

What a gift to have multiple Divine Encounters with this wonderful woman. For years I hesitated talking about Brock to other mothers who were dealing with cancer or loss because I felt that it only frightened them more to hear of losing him. But I realize that when God places anyone in my path and the subject comes up, it’s for a reason and seeing her smile brought joy to my heart. I think it sparked a bit of hope that she will survive and life will get better in its own new way.

Aloha Candice!