Random Texts

Bianca Olthoff has a fantastic study of Ruth on Right Now Media. It’s one of my favorites. I love that her dynamic personality highlights things about Ruth that I didn’t know. One thing that I remember her talking about is the words in Ruth, “It so happened…”(The Message version). Bianca talks about the fact that “It so happened” wasn’t an it so happened at all. It was all God’s perfect timing. Ruth was supposed to be there at that moment so that Boaz would notice her. If she hadn’t been there the lineage of Jesus would not have been the same. God’s plans are perfect and so are His “It so happened” moments.

A few weeks ago, I finally sent my old school their copy of the book where my story is published. In that package, I included a book for my friend, Debi, who has opened her own school. I knew that I had put off sending those books for several months. I was actually supposed to take the books to them in person way back in August. I forgot and left the books at home. Even though my timing was poor, God’s wasn’t.

Thursday morning, I got a random text from Debi. She wanted me to know how much she loved my story. Except it wasn’t a random text, but God’s perfect timing. It was my very own “It so happened” moment.

Last spring, I was looking for a new novel to read for a comparative piece. When you write a book, before you can query agents or publishers you have to have background knowledge of other novels in your genre. I had discovered T.I. Lowe and fell in love with her books. I randomly picked her off Amazon. After I read these, I knew that I needed to find something new. Random picks from Amazon had not failed me up to this point. Well, some of the books I read kinda were failures, but I needed to find something that I could use to compare to what I had written. Of all the things I had read, Denise Hunter and T.I. Lowe was the closest for different reasons.

I got on Amazon and started a search to see what I could come across. I found an author that was just releasing a book called the beach house. The author’s name was Jenny Hale. I hit add to my cart as I often do on Amazon and waited two days to receive my newest novel to compare.

To make a long story shorter (I never seem to be able to make them short), I loved this book. It was new enough and it was somewhat similar to what I like to write. Plus, the story was great. I had found my third comparative that I needed, and a new author that I would read again. Not only did I like her book, I researched the publisher. I tend to look at the publishers to see if they are big or small. It adds to my background knowledge.

Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago. I was leaving my mama’s house and saw a book on her sofa. I asked her if that was my book. She said she had picked that book up at a yard sale, but that she would pass it to me when she was done. She added that she was really enjoying the story. The author was Jenny Hale. That was why I thought it was my book. She asked me if I had ever read anything by Jenny before. We ask each other this question all the time! I told her about the beach house and that I had enjoyed it. I never said anything else about the comparative stuff. Just left that be.

Fast forward to Thursday’s random text. After Debi told me that my story was well written, she asked me if I had ever read any Jenny Hale! Of course, I could say yes and did. Debi went on to say that she and Jenny were childhood friends. She also said that Jenny was speaking at a writer’s conference and would I like the info- she would tag me from Jenny’s Facebook post. How could I say no to that? That afternoon when I got home I checked out the event. I didn’t realize that all of these things were adding up to my “It so happened” moment.

When I checked the event, it was happening the one weekend in November that I could actually make it. Then I saw that there were a limited number of tickets. I knew that would be the shut door. I assumed that this late in the date they would be sold out. I emailed anyway thinking maybe there might be a wait list. The whole time, I felt like I was supposed to go to this and that I was going to have to step out of the boat. Y’all know how hard that is for me!

It so happened that they still had tickets left- no wait list needed. Then, I thought about how difficult it is right now for me to find a substitute, much less take a day off. I was really testing God at this point. I was thinking that if I could get two days off approved and find a substitute then I would buy my ticket and plan a long weekend in Nashville to see--Jenny Hale!

It so happened that when I sent my request to my principal she said I could have the two days off. I still wasn’t out of the woods because of all the years trying to find a substitute, this year has been the hardest. On Friday, I saw a lady that was subbing for another teacher. I asked her thinking that she would already be booked and it so happened that she wasn’t and was willing to sub for me! By this point, I am feeling a little strange that all of these things were falling into place. I had done a quick check of hotels in that area and it so happened that I had enough points for two free nights. Now I only had to purchase my ticket to the conference and figure out how I was going to get to Nashville.

I don’t think I need to tell you that I had to step way out in faith for this. I am a planner and like to know I have money before I commit to something like this. God’s teaching me another lesson I need to learn. I just know it.

And how exciting it was when I tagged Debi and Jenny on Facebook that I would be going to the conference that Jenny responded. I am looking forward to seeing what God does with this. It so happened that it was a pecan moment for me! The whole thing from the random text to the Jenny response- all pecans! May your week be filled with pecans too!