Word of Knowledge at Golden Corral

There's something about Sunday lunch that puts me in a mood. What's the point in going to church if you don't leave somehow affected?

Gina & I have a tradition of going to lunch with her parents every Sunday after church. We've been doing this for the 10 plus years we've been married. Yesterday, being Mother's Day, Gina's mom, Zula, picked the Golden Corral in Springdale. It was even busier than usual and we waited a little while to be seated.

About midway through our meal I noticed a young African American lady sitting at a table all by herself. I assumed she was holding down the fort for some others like we do when we're at a buffet but enough time finally passed I could see she'd come alone. You don't see that too often at a place like that so it caught my attention, even further. I wondered what her circumstances were and before I knew it I was filled with compassion for her.

This next part happened rather quickly and all at once. Somehow I "knew" that she was praying for her husband and that even though breakthrough was coming slowly that the Lord would be faithful in answering her prayers for him. Where did that come from? Well, I knew the answer to that question but still asked it instinctively to myself. What do I do with that? I knew that answer too.

I made a vague announcement to our table that I'd be excusing myself. They are starting to get used to this. I took the few shorts steps to the lady's table. I asked her if I could sit down, that I had something I wanted to share with her. Looking somewhat surprised, she said yes and I took the chair across from her. I asked her something I'd never thought before. "Do you believe God could use a stranger to deliver a message?" or something like that. I don't recall the exact words. She said yes without blinking an eye. I was surprised and encouraged.

I asked her if she was married and she said no. I then went on to explain that I thought the Lord had a message for her regarding her husband. She said she was engaged. I then said that it must be regarding her promised husband and there seemed to be confirmation on that. I asked her if she was praying for him and she told me that she was and that he was in jail. Now this was starting to make some sense to me even though I hadn't expected it to be this serious.

I encouraged her to continue praying. I also told her that the small amount of fruit that she has seen in him recently is God's way of encouraging her to continue praying. I told her not to be discouraged and that what God had started in him will be brought to completion and for her to remain patient and faithful. I encouraged her to give God thanks along the way for the little things and He would make them greater.

I probably concluded with something like, "I just felt led to share that with you." I was about to get up when I saw that she beat me to it. I quickly rose as she did wondering what was going on. She took a step toward me, put her arms out and gave me a beautiful hug right there in the middle of the dining room. I was once again surprised but made sure she knew I was hugging her back and said, "Bless you, sister".

I stepped away from her table and took some time as I grabbed some carrot cake from the buffet. This gave me time to pause and reflect before rejoining the family at our table. I came back and saw the young lady had left. I sat down at our table and told the family about the experience between bites of food. She later returned briefly before leaving the restaurant for that day.

The family talked about this and things related to this on our way back to Siloam Springs. I thought about it much of the rest of that day even as I was getting ready for bed. I think this was another example of "I don't know who was blessed more." Maybe we were blessed the same since we had the same experience, a touch from the same loving God.

- Wade Baker