Crafty Jesus Strikes Again!

The power of prayer, trust and Divine Providence!

A wonderful friend of mine, Jean, lent me a rare prayer book for the year.  This book is rare because only a few thousand were printed and you cannot find them anywhere.  They're not allowed to be printed again until they get a certain "re-approval" from the Church (this process will take a while because the volumes are so large).  As a result, these books are highly prized by the faithful, but they cannot be copied or published in any way until we get that final re-approval.

Anyway, I was given a year's time to properly meditate on these prayers.  However, she was coming to collect the book yesterday, so I knew I needed to have the last few completed.  I was worried that I wouldn't be able to finish them in time, so I decided to make a copy for myself.

... sigh ...

Yes, I decided to make a copy for myself, fully knowing that it was disobedient to do so.  I'm certainly not proud of that, but it's true.

Anyway, as I was running off copies, my conscience was yelling at me the whole time.  I realized that if Jesus wanted me to pray these prayers, He'd figure out an honest way for me to come across the book again - even with it being as rare as it is.  He never wants us to sin - even with the right intentions.  Sin is sin is sin - regardless of motive.  Thus, I said, "Okay, Jesus, I trust You.  If You want these prayers completed, You'll find me a way."

I promptly closed the book and shredded the pages I had copied.

For lunch, I went to Adoration and attempted to finish out the rest before I saw my friend that night.  I got through all but the final prayer.  I had run out of time, so I again said, "Jesus, if You want a completed set, You'll find a way."

She arrived and we had ourselves a great time.  I had her book ready to return, because she intended to take it with her on a trip.  Right before we had dinner, a friend of hers (who I've never met and never talk to) called and told her she had an extra copy of this book that she wanted to give to me.  This woman and I only know of each other through Jean, so while we hear of one another, we've never interacted.  Yet she was apparently thinking of me and putting together a prayer package that included THAT BOOK. 

I did a double take.

Coincidence is a fallacy.  All is Divine Providence.  EVERYTHING is provided by the loving Hand of God. 

My friend said, "Well look, Gina can keep my copy, and when I see you, I'll just pick up that one."

As usual, my trust in Jesus was rewarded.  I immediately relayed to my friend what had happened earlier in the day with what must have been the dopiest grin ever.

God is good.  He truly, truly is.

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