NOTE: This is a continuation of last week’s story: Finding Contentment.

Sharon thumped her pillow and flopped onto her side. After a few moments, she rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling. She studied a watermark in the corner. How long had that been there? She glanced at the clock. Nearly midnight. Tomorrow was going to be exhausting if she didn’t get any sleep.

It was no use. She couldn’t get her mind off of Donna. Frowning, she threw off her blanket and slid her feet into her slippers. She padded to the kitchen and heated a mug of milk.

Sitting at the kitchen table, she blew on the milk and surrendered her heart. “God, I’m sorry for my bitterness. I keep thinking about Donna. I’m not sure why You have her on my mind, but I won’t get any sleep until You tell me what You’d like me to do for her. Please forgive me for trying to have You act on my timetable. I realize I haven’t been as close to You as I should be because I am blaming You for not giving me a husband. I give up my desires to You, God, and accept your will for me.”

Peace, followed by a sense of exhaustion, overcame her. She placed her mug in the dishwasher and crawled back into bed, falling asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

The next morning, she found Rhonda as soon as she got to the office. “Do you have a contact number for Donna?”

Rhonda glanced up from her desk. “Donna Stevenson?”

“Yes. I feel God calling me to reach out to her.”

“That’s wonderful. Hold on, I think I have her number.” Rhonda pulled out her phone and scrolled through her contacts. “Yep. Here it is. I’ll send it to you.”

Sharon’s phone buzzed in her pocket. “Got it. Thanks. I’ll call her when I have a break. Have a great day. I better get to my desk before my boss finds me missing.”

When her break came, Sharon dialed Donna, suddenly nervous. What would she say to her? She didn’t have much time to consider, though, because Donna picked up on the first ring.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Donna. This is Sharon. I sat with you in church yesterday, and, well, God put you on my heart, and I was hoping maybe there was something I could do for you, like help you on house projects, or go grocery shopping, or run errands, or, um…”

Donna’s laugh bubbled through the phone. “That’s very sweet of you. Why don’t you come and have tea with us? That would be perfect.”

How was that going to help? Still, if that’s what she wanted. “OK. I can do that. When would be a good time to visit?”

“Tomorrow evening. Come around 6:30. We live at 242 North Spruce.”

Tuesday evening after a quick dinner, Sharon picked up some flowers and drove to Spruce Street. She glanced at a man mowing the yard of the neat white house, but he was facing the other direction. At least they had someone to help with the outside chores. She rang the doorbell and Donna swung open the door. “Come in, come in.”

Sharon stepped inside and handed the bright bouquet to Donna. “I thought you might like these.”

Donna beamed. “They’re lovely. Come, let’s put them in here next to Gary. He can’t wait to meet you.” She led Sharon into the kitchen and pulled a vase from a cabinet. Once the flowers were in water, she led Sharon to the family room, where Gary sat in a recliner.

“Gary, this is Sharon, the young lady I told you about. Sharon, meet the love of my life.”

Gary reached out his left hand. The right side of his face drooped, but the left half of his mouth quirked upwards. Sharon reached out and squeezed his hand. “It is so lovely to meet you.”

Donna pointed to a chair. “Have a seat, dear, and tell Gary all about yourself while I get you some tea. Gary loves to hear stories.”

Sharon shifted in her seat. What on earth would she talk about? Gary’s eyes were sharp and bright, and he appeared to be studying her, waiting for her to speak.

“I met Donna in church yesterday. She told me you’ve been married 47 years.”

Gary gave a small nod.

“That’s great. I, uh, I’ve never been married. I work in medical billing. It’s not that exciting, but the people are really nice. Do you know Rhonda Shifter?”

Gary nodded again.

“She and I work in the same office. We saw each other at your church. I’d like to keep going there.”

Donna returned and handed Sharon a cup of tea. As Sharon sipped her tea, her nervousness melted away, and soon, she and Donna were swapping stories and chatting like old friends. Gary didn’t speak, but his eyes darted back and forth between the two women, and he appeared to enjoy their banter. Sharon was having more fun than she could have imagined. But this couldn’t be what God wanted her to do, could it?

“Are you sure I can’t help you out with any chores or errands?”

Donna frowned. “Of course not. Gary and I are simply happy to have the company.”

As Sharon studied Donna’s face, it was clear Donna was telling the truth. All they needed was someone to show they cared. They were happy to hear new stories. And Sharon had 37 years of her life they knew nothing about. She had all kinds of stories for them.

She’d been chatting for nearly an hour when a man entered the room. Sharon blinked, surprised, but then realized this must be the man who was cutting the lawn for them. At least they had the funds to hire someone to take care of the outside chores.

“OK, the lawn is mowed, the weed whacking is done, and I took the garbage cans out to the curb. Is there any cake left from Sunday?”

“On the counter. Help yourself.”

The man turned and headed into the kitchen. Where Sharon was seated, he couldn’t see her. He called from the kitchen. “Anyone want anything while I’m in here?”

Donna turned to Sharon. “Would you like a piece of chocolate cake? Sunday was Eric’s birthday, and chocolate is his favorite.”

Sharon shook her head, confused by the relationship Donna had with the landscaper. A moment later, he entered the room carrying a plate of cake and a glass of milk. He stopped short and stared at her.

His gaze was intense, and nearly took her breath away. With his dark, piercing eyes, thick dark hair, and strong jawline, he could have been a movie star.

“Who is this beautiful woman sitting in my seat?”

Donna beamed. “Eric, this is Sharon. She attends our church, and came over tonight to keep us company.” She turned to Sharon. “I’d like you to meet our son, Eric. He spent the last 15 years overseas in missions, but when Gary had his stroke, he moved back to the area to help us out.”

Eric set his dessert on the coffee table and reached out a hand to Sharon. His hand was warm and strong and shot a bolt of electricity up Shannon’s arm.

“That’s not true. I was ready to come home again, anyway. I have a job with the organization that sent me, and now I work helping to send other missionaries. I also happen to enjoy mowing the lawn. I don’t have one.”

Sharon glanced at his left hand. No ring. Maybe spending all that time overseas made it difficult to meet someone. Was it possible? She glanced at Donna, whose eyes gleamed. “I should go. I don’t want to intrude on your time with your son.”

Donna shook her head. “Nonsense. In fact, I need to help Gary get ready for bed. Why don’t the two of you chat, and I’ll be back a little later.”

Eric smiled at her, a smile that lit up the room. All this time, had God been saving this man for her for just this moment? She was about to find out. “Do you have any more of that cake?”

Jeremiah 29:11

 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Ephesians 3:20

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

God, we don’t know what You have planned for us. But simply listening to Your voice sometimes takes us to places we could never imagine. Reaching out to help others often blesses us more in return. Please help us hear Your voice and be obedient to Your leadings. You’re a good Father who has good gifts for His children. Help us be ready to receive them! In Jesus’ name, Amen.