by Maggie Goins

Created on: May 13, 2008

I was about as sad as I'd ever been. Leaving was always so hard, but this time I felt especially hollowed out. My carry-on bag was suddenly way too heavy. I dragged it and myself down the aisle of the plane, looking for 17F.

"Oh,! Excuse me. I think you're in my seat," I said. The woman smiled and nodded. She picked up her toddler as she looked around at all their belongings.

Before she could gather up their stuff I said, "Wait, you two look pretty settled there" and sat down next to them in the middle seat. I buckled my seat belt, got out my book, and turned off my cell. I thought of my niece crying, of hugging my sisters good bye yet again. I missed my mother, gone now for two years. When I next go back, will my father be gone, too? I reminded myself of those I loved so dearly waiting at home. Why did it have to be so difficult for me to make the transition from one family to the other? My tired soul ached from the effort.

A woman sat on the other side of me, talking right away about moving to an empty seat in the front when the plane took off. I hoped that would happen. I felt as if I couldn't quite handle a talker and concentrated on my book as soon as I could. To my surprise, the toddler wiggled her way onto my lap. She had wisps of brown hair, a crooked smile, eyes too large for her sweet face. She looked me in the eye and smiled as if she'd always known me. It was impossible for me to not smile back.
"What's her name?" I asked.
"Gabrielle," the mother said. "She's 13 months old." Gabrielle had the name of one of my granddaughters and was the age of the other. We played a clapping game of her invention. Every few minutes she would smile at me until I did the same. As we reached full altitude, she began to look sleepy and went back to her mother to cuddle, eat, and fall asleep.

I read and dozed. Movement made me look up from my book. Gabrielle reached for me with eyes partly closed and cheeks pink from her mother's warmth. I took her in my arms and she fell back to sleep on my shoulder, holding me close. With every noise on the plane, she would half wake, hug me tight, and go back to sleep. My heavy, blue sadness evaporated and was replaced with love, happiness, and complete peace.

Some would believe it was a coincidence that Gabrielle was there that day, on my flight, in my seat. Not me. He comes to us in various forms, when we need Him most, to soothe our souls and fill us with the strength of His love.

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