Today’s blog post is the third in a series. I’m certain we all have stories demonstrating the wonder of how we are knitted together in unique ways. I am awestruck each time it happens. This one, by far, has been the most incredible occurrence in my life. The timing and the incidents that had to happen leading up to the moment were unimaginable – but God….

While visiting a friend recovering from a debilitating health event, I caught a bit of movement out of the corner of my eye.  When I turned to look, there was a petite, but pleasantly round bit of a woman, making her way down the hall, “walking” her wheelchair as she sat. She was nearly bald with wisps of fine white hair haphazardly drifting about her head as she moved.   Her one arm was resting across her body, while her other, waved as she called out, “Hi Honey!”  Her face was impish and lit up with a smile as we greeted her in turn.  She came into the room and instantly there was a warmth that poured in with her smile.  “How are you doing, Fran? “, asked my friend.  “Oh, I’m doing better.  Just a little peeved that I didn’t get my cookie at lunch today”, she said with a bit of a turned down lip, much like a pouting child.  “But I managed to lift my arm higher and hold my balance”, Fran continued.  As we talked more, I discovered she had been in the hospital to repair a heart valve and then suffered a stroke.  Fran was making progress, but it was much slower than she would have liked.  Her son was in Colorado and visited on the phone when able.  She had endeared the staff and seemed to be a favorite. When Fran spoke, she drew you closer to her.  There was a frankness blended with a touch of ‘everybody’s mom’ softness of character.  She spoke of her progress with distant hope – spoke of other patients undergoing rehab – and she spoke of staff, the selfless caregivers who were tireless in their efforts to bring these patients back to wholeness.  In her weakened state, she was encouraging and engaging.  As she rolled out of the room – I was left with wanting more.

A week went by and I could not get Fran out of my head.  My mother’s name was Frances, and there was something very familiar about Fran that tugged at my heart.  I was preparing for another visit with my friend and invited my husband to come along to change things up a bit.  I brought some flowers in the hopes of seeing Fran again.  I wanted my husband to meet her.  After catching up with my friend and her amazing progress, we all decided to go down the hall to find that impish little woman packed with personality.  I warned my husband that she was nearly bald and had a quirky personality.  As we drew closer to her room my anticipation of seeing her grew.  We turned through the threshold and I began to introduce my husband but was quickly interrupted by his jovial, “Oh I know Fran!”  Fran’s face melted into tears, my husband went to give her a hug as my friend and I stared at each other in disbelief.  Was he just being wonderfully friendly?  What a great greeting!  He really embraced my prompting to welcome her!  However, that wasn’t the case.  Fran and my husband did know each other!  More than 30 years ago my husband, then living in Illinois, rode in a group bicycle trip across the United States.  Fran and her husband were the ham radio support, driving alongside those cyclists for over 3000 miles.  As the stories poured out, there was not a dry eye in the room.  Through it all, we couldn’t help but marvel at God’s goodness, His prompting to reach out and the tremendous blessings Fran, my friend, my husband and I all shared in those moments.  God is good; all the time!

I wrote this piece originally in 2020. After that initial meeting of Fran, we kept in touch. She eventually moved to Colorado to be closer to her son and his family. Fran went to be with the Lord earlier this year. Though gone from this earth, her joyful, sweet spirit has left an indelible mark in our hearts.