Hijacked

By Charlotte Riegel –

My plans were all set for the day. I arose earlier than usual, showered, dressed, had breakfast and felt energized as I started into the day’s activities. Hubby was still at the table finishing up breakfast when the doorbell rang. I was delighted to see my neighbor standing there and greeted her with enthusiasm.

December had been a busy month for both of us and we were overdue for a visit and catch-up session over tea. “Hello! I’m sooo glad to see you,” I said with a hug. “Do you have time to come in and have tea?”

“Well, yes, that is why I’m here,” she responded with a smile.

I put aside my planned work projects knowing I still had time to work on them before my meeting in the afternoon. I soon discovered the importance of this little tea party as my friend shared about some rough waters of life she was encountering.

It was well past noon when she left. I hurriedly prepared some lunch still thinking I could make adequate preparations for my afternoon business meeting. Beginning to feel stress rising within me and aware there was no way I could make the necessary phone calls I released a sigh of dismay and decided to offer a cancellation of the planned meeting so as not to waste the time of the other party involved. He said we should meet anyway and work with the information already available to us. I was very grateful my hijacked morning had not destroyed the rest of my day.

Elaine Townsend, wife to Cam Townsend, founder of Wycliffe Bible Translators, often encouraged new missionary recruits with the following words: “Interruptions are the most important part of the day. The rest is just filler.”

Reflecting on the day’s events at bedtime, I recognized the tea party as having been a divine appointment and thanked God for helping to salvage the remainder of my day.

“Help carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will obey the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2 GNT).