Perfect Timing

It was my friend’s birthday.
I had a busy morning and knew that I wanted to stop and see her.
She was working, so I had to time my visit just right.
I know when she takes her lunch, so I try to visit before or after her lunch hour.

I sent her a birthday greeting in a text message.
I decided what I would bring to her.
Neither one of us forget the other’s birthday.
Sometimes, we will bake something for each other and always choose a special card.

This year I decided that I would go to a new coffee shop that is in the town where she lives.
The coffee shop is made to look rustic with wood floors and large farm tables.
People sit at the tables with their laptops.
Others sit in the comfy chairs near the fireplace.

Old kitchen things are scattered about.
Large enamelware basins hang on the wall.
An old wooden chair hangs next to a window.
Everything in this coffee shop could be transported to my house and feel at home.

Each morning, freshly baked items are placed in the rustic wooden display case.
Scones, muffins, and cookies all look delicious.
Children will press their face against the glass as they make their choice.
I chose four things to be boxed for my friend.

The logo of a farmhouse is on the box.
I knew that she would be delighted and imagined her nibbling a scone at her desk.
I am not a coffee drinker, in fact I have never even tried coffee.
However, if I did like coffee, there are all different types I could order.

I heard names and terms that were foreign to me.
The barista knew how to make the exact type of coffee each customer ordered.
The sounds and smells in the coffee shop were amazing.
The din of conversation filled the air.

I left with the boxed goodies for my friend.
I had a card for her and two of my favorite, organic, dark chocolate candy bars.
I made a mental note that I would stop by her office, timing my visit after her lunch hour.
Since she works in a school, there are security hoops that a visitor must go through to enter.

I knew that only after being buzzed in the door and going through the security I could see her.
I knew that I would have to give my driver’s license so it could be scanned.
I knew that a copy of my driver’s license would be made into a sticker that I would wear.
By the time all of that was completed, she would be back from lunch.

I stopped at an organic market on my way to see my friend.
As I was driving to see her, I saw a car in front of me with a magnet of our state university.
Another magnet on the back of the car gave it away.
My friend was driving the car in front of me.

We were at a red light.
I did not want to use my horn and startle her.
I opened my window and waved my arm out the side window.
She saw the movement as the light turned green.

She realized it was me.
She turned into a church parking lot.
I followed her.
I was able to give her a birthday hug and give her the birthday goodies I chose for her.

The timing was perfect.
We could not have planned our meeting that perfectly even if we tried.
We had about fifteen minutes to talk before she had to head back to work.
I did not have to go through any security hoops; my friend was right there.

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. (Galatians 4:4-7)

God’s timing is perfect.
Jesus was born when the time had fully come.
So many things had to be in place before the Incarnation could happen.
God was lining everything up perfectly so Jesus would be born in the fullness of time.

Do we ever think about the perfect timing of God?
Elizabeth conceived, though she was beyond childbearing years, and had John the Baptist.
John came first because he was to get the people ready for the Messiah to come.
Mary conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit at the perfect time.

Because of King Herod’s slaughter of the innocents, Mary, Joseph and Jesus went to Egypt.
When Herod died, the family was called out of Egypt and went to Nazareth.
It was foretold that Jesus would be a Nazarene.
After Jesus ascended to heaven, the disciples taught the people all that Jesus had taught them.

God’s Word went forth over continents because an elaborate system of roads was constructed.
Nothing happened by accident.
Everything was timed perfectly by God the Father.
The time had fully come just as He said.

I thought about that today after I left my friend.
We could not have timed our meeting more perfectly.
In the scheme of things, this was little yet still amazing.
If you look at your own life, I am sure you will see the perfect timing of God over and over again.

We still doubt when we want something and it seems to be taking longer than we would like.
God perfectly timed the meeting of two friends on the road; He did not have to do that.
God timed the Incarnation of His Son when all the pieces fit together perfectly.
The fullness of time is never arbitrary.

Trust God with the timing of whatever it is you are asking Him to do.
God’s timing is perfect in the big things and in the little things.
All the tiny details that God works together for good still astounds me.
Let us never take for granted God’s involvement in our daily lives or His perfect timing.