The Wrong Address

I had the privilege of making a meal for a sweet young mom.
This young mom has been to my house many times.
She has five children and was expecting her sixth child.
She just had her new baby girl.

I look at this young mom and see myself at that age.
I enjoy her four daughters and her one son.
I love seeing them play with my children’s toys.
When they discovered they were having another girl, her son desperately wanted a brother.

The meal schedule at church began right away.
I wanted to sign up sooner than later.
I could not wait to meet this little one.
This sweet young mom sent me a picture of her the day she was born.

I could see the family resemblance.
I tried to decide which of her other children this new little one looked like the most.
I was looking forward to giving this sweet mom a hug and holding her precious baby.
I texted her the day before to agree on a time to come over.

All morning, I was cooking and loving every minute of it.
The house smelled of homemade soup, biscuits, and chocolate chip squares for dessert.
I tried to think of a meal that would be child friendly and would feed that many.
I am used to cooking for a lot of people, so it was not a problem.

I clicked on the address to see the best route.
I did not commit the directions to memory.
I knew that I would use the GPS when I began to drive.
The family had just moved into their house not too long ago.

When they were between houses, the family lived with her mother-in-law for a time.
I met this lovely woman at church when I first met this sweet young mom.
They were new to our church the day I met them.
They sat in front of me and I was so impressed with their sweet children.

When the older woman turned around, we knew each other.
She had been a nurse in the doctor’s office when my children were small.
Small world, we both said.
I was thrilled to make the connection.

I placed the dinner on a tray and put it on the floor of the passenger side of my car.
I gathered the two gift bags.
One bag was for the new baby.
The other bag had a few little things for the other children.

I clicked on the address and listened to the voice of the GPS direct me.
I was driving on the road I expected.
However, it did not have me turn on a road I remembered seeing when I first checked.
I was driving further than I expected.

I loved passing farms ready for harvest.
I was thoroughly enjoying the drive.
At a red light, I got a text from the young mom.
She was feeding the baby and the two younger ones were napping.

She wanted me to text her when I arrived.
I knew that she did not want me to ring the doorbell with the children sleeping.
I arrived.
I’m here, I typed as I sent the text.

No one came out.
I decided to walk up to the front door.
I opened the storm door and tried to open the latch on the interior door.
I figured she was still nursing and could not get up to answer the door.

To my surprise, another woman opened the door.
She looked as surprised to see me as I was to see her.
I recognized her as the mother-in-law of the young mom.
She was the nurse for my children all those years ago.

I’m bringing a meal tonight, I said.
She’s not here, the woman answered.
This is my house, she said as she held a large yellow lab back from the door.
They moved; she doesn’t live here anymore.

I was so confused.
I went inside.
I apologized for attempting to open her front door.
I was wondering who was in my driveway, she said.

What is their new address? I asked.
She pulled it up on her phone.
It was not the address I had in my phone.
I checked the app that we use to sign up for meals; there the address was correct.

I went by the address in my phone and not the address on the app itself.
I was so sure.
There was no need to check.
I could figure it out.

The lovely woman and I talked for a bit.
Then my phone rang.
It was the sweet young mom who got my text telling her that I had arrived.
Except, I had not arrived and she had no idea where I was.

Her mother-in-law offered to take the meal to their house for me.
She would bring the presents as well.
I had to resign myself that this was not the day to give the young mom a hug.
This was not the day to hold the precious little baby.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

We think we know the way.
We think we do not have to check the directions.
We think we will figure it out on our own.
Then we are surprised when we do not get to our destination.

Jesus is the Way.
Jesus leads us back to the Father who created us.
No other way will get us to that destination.
If we rely on ourselves for directions, we will fail miserably.

Imagine our surprise.
This is My House, we hear.
Not everyone will be able to enter.
There is only one Way to get there.

When we follow Jesus there are no surprises.
There is only a warm welcome.
Come into My House.
There is a place just for you.