Standing
in line at the registrar’s office at our junior college, I contemplated what
class to switch with the chemistry class on my schedule. I overloaded my roster
with heavy core subjects and my college counselor advised that I switch one out
for an easier elective. The girl in front of me had long dark hair, which hung
well past her hips. I could not help but compliment her on its beauty. As we
chatted, we discovered we were changing classes at the same hour and decided to
take a yearbook class.
I
went through almost two years at that school and never saw that beautiful young
lady again! We both took yearbook class, but we were teamed up with other
individuals to work on the layouts we were assigned. My partner was Jane, whom
God ordained to lead me to the Lord. At the end of my two years in junior
college, I married the man of my dreams; and three weeks later, I was carrying
our first son.
We
served in a local ministry called the One Way House; but eventually, over
the next few years, we moved to several cities around the country. I was riding
my bike at full speed down a busy highway in Phoenix, AZ with my long, jet
black hair flying out behind me and dancing with the wind. The driver of the
car next to me started blaring its horn at me.
I
was perplexed and a bit frightened, so I pulled into a busy parking lot in
front of a chain of retail stores. To my discomfort, this same car pulled into
the parking place next to where I stood beside my bike. The driver opened her
door and ran around her car, flinging herself into my arms. You guessed it!
This was the same girl who stood in line with me to change our scheduled
classes back in junior college.
How
she recognized me, I will never know; but I suspect it was the Holy Spirit’s
activity. Of course, I invited her to supper that night and we spent hours
catching up and playing with my two children. When she left, I gave her a record
full of Christian songs. I silently prayed that this divine appointment would
not be lost, but would bear fruit in both our lives.
Many
years flew past since that last meeting; and no word has exchanged between us
since then. However, I often think of the beautiful young lady from Chicago, IL,
and wonder why she came to Pensacola, FL and then to Phoenix, AZ at the same
microcosm of time and space as I did. I pray for her to this day, hoping that
she found the same peace and rest in Jesus Christ that I have enjoyed for over
45 years.
I
am posting this on my blog in hopes that by some God-ordained providence, she
will read this and reconnect with me. If not, then I pray that we shall meet in
Heaven as sisters-in-Christ, once our work for God on this earth is done. –
Kathleen Del Gallo (Hill) Bradley
