I was so excited to travel to North Carolina to visit my son and daughter-in-love. They had recently purchased their first home, and since they were both working—and she was expecting—I offered to help unpack and organize. These are gifts I believe God has given me, and I love using them to serve others. They welcomed my presence and assistance, and I was elated!
The night before my flight, I checked in and decided to upgrade my seat. I chose a window seat that was unassigned and was thrilled to pay a few extra dollars to move up fifteen rows.
On the morning of the flight, I decided to board late so I could stand and stretch a little longer. When I reached my row, a smile came across my face because I appeared to have the entire row to myself. There were several other empty rows nearby, but then a young couple smiled at me, placed their luggage in the overhead compartment, and slid into the seats beside me.
My first thought was, Why this row? There are so many other seats they could have chosen.
The young woman was on the phone. I could hear the heartache, tension, and concern in her voice. She spoke quietly, as if trying not to disturb anyone or draw attention to her distress.
It was easy to hear the conversation, so I began praying for her and for the person on the other end of the phone.
When the conversation ended, she bent forward, lowered her head, and wiped tears from her eyes.
As the plane door was closing, the flight attendant asked the couple if they would like to move to the empty row beside us so everyone could be more comfortable. The young man agreed and began moving their belongings to seats D, E, and F.
That was when I felt the Holy Spirit nudge me to speak to her.
I gently placed my hand on her shoulder and said, “Excuse me. I could tell you were having a difficult conversation. I just wanted you to know that I’ve been praying for you and”—I mentioned the person’s name because I had heard her repeat it several times—“for him.”
A sweet and meaningful conversation followed. By that point, her husband knew they weren’t moving to the other row. We talked and prayed together.
It was a divine appointment.
Over the next hour and a half, I got to know this precious young couple. We talked about their hobbies, their families, the young woman’s mother who had passed away years earlier, and the church they helped plant in St. Petersburg. They were the same age as my children, and I felt as if I were talking with one of my own.
Will I ever see or hear from my new friends again? Probably not—but who knows what God may do?
Will her brother be okay? I don’t know what the future holds, but I was comforted to know that he knows the Lord. Whatever happens, he is in God’s hands, and we can trust Him.
Did this sweet young woman smile during our time together and find a little peace? Yes, I believe she did.
In the end, my question—Why this row?—was answered. God wanted me to offer comfort, encouragement, and perhaps a brief distraction during a difficult moment. He placed me exactly where He wanted me to be.
When you think you have a good plan, remember that God’s plan is always better. Listen for those Holy Spirit nudges, and be willing to respond when He calls you to act.
You may discover that you were not only a blessing to someone else—you were blessed by the encounter, too.
Blessings to you and yours,
Stephanie