Monday morning, I boarded a flight for a big work training. The past couple of weeks had been rough, and I was mentally and emotionally drained. All I wanted was to put on my headphones, zone out, and maybe sleep the whole way there.
There was a man seated on the aisle and I had the window seat. As they announced the cabin doors were closing, I felt a small wave of relief—no one was in the middle seat. I’d have space, quiet, and no interruptions. I got my headphones out and started to settle in when, suddenly, a woman came rushing down the aisle and slid into the seat beside me.
Just then, the pilot came on the intercom. He shared that he was a seasoned pilot and knew someone near the back of the plane was afraid of flying. He reassured everyone that he would get us safely to our destination.
I turned to the woman next to me and said, “Wow, that was pretty cool.” That simple comment sparked a three-hour conversation that would leave a lasting impact on me. We laughed, we cried. She was a Lebanese woman, and though we came from very different worlds, we discovered so much in common—even down to our age.
As the plane began to descend, I gently squeezed her arm and told her she was an answer to my prayers.
She held my arm, lifted the cross necklace she wore to her lips, and softly said, “You were an answer to mine.”
In that sacred moment, the Spirit whispered to my heart, “I know this isn’t what you wanted, but it was exactly what you needed.”
That conversation filled my soul in a way I hadn’t even realized I was craving. It restored a piece of hope I thought I’d lost. As I stepped off that plane, I carried more than just my luggage—I carried a renewed sense of peace, connection, and perspective. That unexpected seatmate, that sacred moment, reminded me that sometimes the most meaningful answers come when we let go of our plans and trust the journey. I’m deeply grateful for a Heavenly Father who knows me personally—and gives me not just what I ask for, but what I truly need.
xoxo
Tiffanee
