Henry stared out the window, desperately trying not to feel sorry for himself, but every person who walked by on the sidewalk below reminded him of what he’d lost. He wheeled his wheelchair away from the window and cried out to God.

“Lord, I know I should be grateful you spared my life in the car crash, but I have to admit, I’m feeling pretty useless right now. I may never walk again. And I know I’m Your child and You love me, but I can’t imagine any woman ever will. Please help me feel useful again. I just need to be needed.”

***

 Across the hall, Bella swiped her hand across her forehead, leaving a streak of flour. Who knew baking cookies would be so complicated? Why had she agreed to make all the cookies for the children’s Christmas program? She had no idea what she was doing. She finished rolling the dough balls for the jelly thumbprint cookies and grabbed the jelly jar, ready to spoon it into the holes in the cookies. She twisted the jar lid and it wouldn’t budge. Uggh. She didn’t have time for this. She twisted with all her might, and still no luck.

“God, what am I going to do? I can’t open this stupid jar, and I still need to roll out and decorate dozens of cookies. I need help!”

A moment later, the fire alarm blared. Bella groaned. “That’s not what I had in mind.” She switched off the oven and dashed into the hallway, nearly colliding with her neighbor from across the hall, who’d exited his apartment in his wheelchair. And just like that, as suddenly as the alarm sounded, it silenced.

Bella glanced at her neighbor. “Do you think that means we don’t have to exit?”

He shrugged. “I guess it was a false alarm. If it were a problem, it would still be blaring.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

Her neighbor wheeled his chair back to his apartment, his muscular arms working the wheels. His muscular arms….

“Wait!” Bella dashed over to him.

The man turned around, eyebrows raised.

“Could you help me open a jar?”

The corner of his mouth quirked up. “Sure.”

Bella opened her apartment door and waved him in. “I’m Bella, by the way. I just moved in here a couple of weeks ago and haven’t had a chance to meet many neighbors.”

He held out his hand. “Nice to meet you, Bella. Your name suits you. I’m Henry.”

Bella’s cheeks warmed. Bella meant beautiful. Did he mean what she thought he meant?

Henry wheeled his way into the apartment. “What on earth is going on here?”

Bella’s cheeks flamed hotter. “I know it’s a giant mess. But the kids at our church are singing at the nursing home down the block this afternoon and I promised to make cookies. The kids and the seniors are supposed to eat them together after the program. But I underestimated how much time it would take, and I’m nowhere near ready, and now I can’t get the jelly jar open, and…”

Henry held up a hand. “Give me the jar.”

Bella handed it to him and he opened it with no effort. She stared at him. “Wow. You’re strong.”

“At least part of me is.” A flicker of pain flashed across Henry’s face. “Would you like some help with your cookies? My brothers and I always helped our mom make cookies growing up. I’m a whiz at rolling out dough and decorating.”

Bella raised her gaze to the ceiling. “Thank You, Lord.”

Henry stared at her. “What did you just say?”

“I was thanking God. The Bible says He’ll do more than we ask or imagine. I was just telling God how much I needed help. And not only does he send help, he sends me a strong handsome guy that just happens to know how to make cookies.”

The grin that spread across Henry’s face lit something inside Bella. My word, he was even more handsome with that smile. Within moments, they were working together seamlessly, rolling cutting, shaping, icing, sprinkling, and baking.

Three hours later, Henry and Bella sat at the edge of the dining room in the Forest Hills Senior center, where white-haired men and women sat with preschoolers sharing the cookies they had made. Bella turned to find Henry, not watching the people but with his gaze fixed on her.

“What is it?”

“I wanted to thank you.”

Bella blinked. “Thank me? Whatever for? You’re the one who helped me today.”

Henry shook his head. “No. Thank you for reminding me that I am so much more than a guy in a wheelchair. You gave me hope today. I got the chance not only to help the beautiful Bella, but also to make a difference for all these people here today. You helped answer my prayers, too”

Warmth bubbled up inside Bella, and she didn’t want her time with Henry to end.

“Bella?” Henry’s voice became shy, tentative.

“Yes?”

“Would you like to have dinner with me?”

Joy practically burst from her chest. “Yes!”

 

1 John 5:14-15

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

God, sometimes things don’t go well in our lives, but sometimes we are overwhelmed by Your blessings. You surround us with such beauty in nature, and you give us people who love us. Thank You for the people You place in our lives. We never know how our prayers will be answered, but sometimes it happens in ways we could never ask or imagine. You give good gifts to Your children. Thank You for Your love for us and for finding creative ways to bless us. And for those of us who are still waiting to hear the answer to our prayers, please grant us patience. In Jesus’ name, Amen.