A very unusual situation happened to me this past weekend. At college on Wednesday evening I heard from a friend that the mother of my good friend Edel had passed away from cancer. I fell silent and it shocked me. I did not know that Edel's mother had cancer, for she had never told me anything about it. I keep contact with her every couple of months. I felt very sorry for her as she is such a lovely, good-natured person. I was indeed upset for her, considering how painful the bereavement of a loved one can be. I thought about phoning her and offering words of comfort, but I was afraid I might do more harm than good if the family needed time to grieve, and prepare for the funeral. Details of the funeral appeared on the paper last Friday. There was Edel's name under that of her deceased mother, listing her as her only daughter. I thought about going. I searched for the tiny village where the funeral was to take place on a map (somewhere in Co. Limerick) but no way could I find it. This upset me more, and throughout that weekend I offered heartfelt prayer and fasting for the soul of Edel's mother and for consolation for Edel and her family; the thought of them suffering upset me very much. I was surprised none of our mutual friends had contacted me about it. I felt very isolated. Then, on that Friday evening, the day of the funeral, about 9pm, I got a text on the phone from Edel. After praying and thinking about her all day, my heart leapt. What would I say? What would she have to say? A text on the day of the funeral sounded like someone badly in need of consolation. I prayed to my guardian angel to help Edel and her family through this difficult time. The text itself was short. She asked how I was doing, and how college was going etc. No mention of the awful day she just had. I replied gingerly, heart pounding, wishing her well and replying that I was indeed doing well (which was a bit, eh, misleading!). I thought she was simply trying to use the company as a way to escape the difficulties she was going through.I finished the text by asking how she was. (I did not let slip my knowledge of the funeral as I didn't want to upset her when all she needed was to have a little chat.) Then, only yesterday, she replied to me again, stating that things were very well with her, and judging by her texts, couldn't have been in a better mood! She said she would meet up with me again when she would come to Cork in a couple of weeks. ???????????????????????????????????????? :? :? :? I was absolutely delighted that the Lord had answered my pleas of consolation for her. She was in a great mood! As I lay in bed last night, I once again pondered the situation very carefully. Then it hit me. WRONG EDEL!!! I felt silly that I had prayed much for her, been upset and to have her contact me on that very day as if nothing had happened was like Our Lord saying to me: "There's nothing wrong with her, you idiot!" I laughed sheepishly for the thought of sending my guardian angel to her only to find nothing had happened! (Today I prayed for consolation for the proper Edel in Co. Limerick) Ah well, it would have been worse if I had rang her, offering condolences! When I meet her next week, I'll have a face on me like a sunburnt tomato She must have had the best weekend of her life...
A look to the future. Sean, That will be one of those questions you'll have to ask the Lord when you get to heaven: "Well Lord, what did you do with those prayers? :wink: Safe in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary!
Well maybe because you said the prayers over the mistake Edel contacted you. As a matter of fact maybe it wasn't really a mistake at all. I no longer really believe much in accidents anymore, all things fit together. When you meet up with Edel I would pay attention to what is going on... :wink:
