Ellen Was Her Name

This morning a lady came into my shop that was waiting for a train.  She had the times confused and had over an hour to wait.  By now you have probably figured out I can have conversations with anyone.  I sat down and we started chatting.  First about my business, how I got started.  She told me about the business her husband and she started.  Sad story, ending with a fire.  The topic comes up that her son has a benign brain tumor.  She tells me about how it is twisted around his brain stem.  It cannot be removed.  He had chemo to see if it would shrink it, it did not.  Radiation could cause brain damage.  She told me about the trials her son faces.  Daily headaches.  His fight to stay healthy.  Depression can set in.  I know about living with a child with an illness.  I talk about my son.  We discuss how life does not always go by our plan.  We connected on a few subjects.  She said she could talk to me because I was a stranger.  Her son does not want her talking to people about his illness.  Old Lady, I told her about your phrase, "It is not my story to tell."  She loved that phrase.  Said she would be using it.  God came into the discussion.  About if we have anger, do we feel punished.  I said, I do not.  I always have it in my mind that so many people are so much worse off than we are.  She agreed. 
When her son came off the train, I was thrilled to see him.  I'm looking at him feeling awed by the challenges he faces and fights to overcome.  She went to greet her son and they both returned.  He got a bag of candy.  His Mom handed me a religious pamphlet and told me her name was Ellen.  Odd that we never exchanged names during our long, personal conversation.  I will probably never see her again.  I will think of her.  It is another reminder that everyone has a story.  Many people are facing challenges that we cannot see.  I am sure there was a reason that Ellen and I met today.  The thing is our conversation was not tragic and woe is me.  It was about strength and parenthood.  Not about this how hard and terrible our children have it.  It felt like a positive encounter.
The first line that jumped out at me on the pamphlet was:  God has a plan for your life.  I feel that so much now.  Her visit reminded me of that.  I need to do my best and know that I am on a path.  Very positive meeting.