Much could
be missed in one’s life by not being aware of a miracle happening. I experienced this recently. I went to McDonald’s restaurant to meet a
group of men from our church for a coffee on Tuesday morning, as is our
custom. I was a bit later than the rest,
and found there were about 15 already present.
The only vacant chair was directly across the table from a new fellow,
and a conversation soon followed to know something about him.
I introduced
myself; Keith MacDonald, and he gave me his name. I learned that he had been a farmer along
with his brother, and that they realized that with a better education they would
be in a position to apply for other positions.
So, he studied at university and graduated with a major in education and
a minor in music. He taught school for a
number of years, played various musical instruments with a Gospel-singing
group, and sold life insurance.
That is when
I asked the new fellow the name of the company with which he sold insurance,
and he said it was The Mutual Life.
Naturally, I responded, saying, “My dad was a salesman for the same
company and that he was given the position of manager in the Winnipeg office.” Of course, that aroused his curiosity and he
wanted to hear my dad’s name.
Immediately, one could almost see or hear the cogs turning in his
head.
He answered
that he had met my dad, and that he had heard very good reports about his work
with the company. In fact, he said, I
understand that I am related to him. “My
wife is the daughter of your mother’s brother, Sam. That would make you a direct cousin of my
wife, and because she is your first cousin, I am indirectly, your cousin too.”
We were
invited to their place the next evening and had a grand visit. His wife knew my sisters, and that my brother
Ken, and I were doctors. The dear lady
said she was so sorry when my youngest sister, Margaret died. It was uncanny to hear her call her by name, and
the other members of our family as well.
She mentioned each one of my mother’s twelve siblings by name, and told
us what she remembered about her aunt Eunice, my mother. A picture was produced of my
grandparents. Mum’s mother was holding
her baby daughter, who was my mother.
Her older sister was standing beside their father.
We will
continue our new friendship, which will be easy, as we consider that we are
first of all part of the family of God, and secondly, part of the ever-widening
family that has encompassed the MacDonald family and theirs.
The
astonishing part of this story is that as it was explained to our daughter and
her family, they suddenly realized that our own grandchildren, they themselves,
have been attending school with the grandchildren of our new-found relatives. They are “blown away” with the realization
that they are cousins of their fellow students.
Fortunately, they are already good friends.
As I reflect
upon our meeting at McDonald’s, I see the perfect set-up for the miracle, in that
the only vacant chair amongst that group of 15 men, was the one directly
opposite the new fellow, who was my unknown cousin.
