Post Office Miracle

Something miraculous happened to me yesterday at the Post Office. I had to go there to mail a manuscript copy of my book, UGH! The Joys of Raising Boys - Survival Stories from a Mother of Five Boys to a fellow author in the north Chicago Suburbs. I called this author a few weeks earlier to sort of pick her brain about publishing and how it all works and she agreed to read my book, and if she likes it, to give an endorsement.

Well, she is a busy mom too, so she had been meaning to call me for two weeks. Yesterday was the day we finally connected (after one round of phone tag a few days prior).

"I will mail you a copy of the book as soon as possible," I told her and then hung up.

I put the book with her address next to my car keys because I would be driving into town to pick up my twelve-year-old son Joel at the Junior High later that day. Joel was going to help me deliver the Coffee News (a weekly local publication that is distributed to area restaurants). I was supposed to drop off the papers to the regular delivery person last Thursday, but TOTALLY forgot. My bad. I told my delivery person that I would take care of getting the papers delivered.

Because we live in the country about equal-distance between two towns, I reserve errands for times when I already have to go somewhere. So, next to my book that was to be mailed, there was a stack of three library books (two days overdue) that I would also drop off at the library.

As I got closer to the junior high school, I realized that I may have enough time to go to the Post Office first, but that would depend if there was a line. I decided to play it safe and go to the junior high first so that Joel wouldn't think I forgot him (a STRONG possibility). I parked my car behind the line of other parental vehicles and was happy that I am finally NOT driving a minivan anymore! After fifteen years of minivans, my husband and I recently purchased a car. Yeah!

After a few minutes of watching adolescents pour out of the double doors of the old brick school building (they looked like a mass of disjointed ants going every which way), Joel found my car. He hopped in and had to move my stack of library books and my manuscript and he said, "What's this?"

"We have to go to the Post Office and the library before we deliver the Coffee News," I said.

He responded with an UGH! and got out his Ipod.

I went into the Post Office and took care of the postage for mailing my manuscript and moved to the side counter to complete the address label of the large envelope. While I was filling out the label, a woman walked in whom I knew casually from my church. I thought she would remember meeting me, but wasn't sure if she would remember my name, so I said, "Hi Karen. Do you remember me, I'm Tracy from church."

"Oh, yeah, Hi Tracy." and we carried on a bit of chitter chatter. She was at the Post Office to complete a change of address card. Her husband had just been laid off due to the slow economy and their family decided to move to a less expensive home.

I wished her well and said that I knew things would work out. She agreed. Then, I decided to take a little risk. A little voice in my head was saying, "If you don't tell people about your book, how will they know?" I had been doing research online about how to market a non-fiction book and one of the ways is to build a platform (following of people) through speaking engagements.

"Hey, Karen, I am just going to throw this out there to you..."

She looked at me, nodded and said, "Sure, go ahead."

"I have written a book about my five boys." I showed her the copy that I was mailing to the other author. "I am looking for speaking opportunities in the area so that I can promote my blog and my book. If you ever hear of a church group, scouts, ladies auxiliary, PTO, etc... that is in need of a speaker, would you pass them my information?"

She lit up a little and said, "Did you know that I write for the publisher of all of the small town local papers in the area? I cover feature stories as well as school board meetings. I would love to do a feature story on you."

"WOW, that would be great! I am giving a talk this Friday night here in town, would you like to come?"

"Sure."

I was amazed. Right before I got into my car to head into town, I had been surfing the web reading and reading and reading about the many ways to promote and publicize a book. It was overwhelming to me. So many books, so many authors......UGH!

As I drove by myself in the car, I prayed out loud for God to lead me to the right people and the right circumstances that will help me move forward as I follow my dream.

AHA! SHAZAM HERE I AM, God said to me as He allowed my path to cross with Karen's so that I could be featured in the local newspapers. It may seem like a small thing to others, but to me it was HUGE because it means more that just a moment in the spotlight. It means that the God who gave me my dream is listening to my prayers and He will be faithful to provide each and every resource necessary for me to achieve all that is purposed by Him.

Sometimes, the world can make me feel very small and insignificant. Rejection and disappointment can bring discouragement, but when I saw all the things that God aligned perfectly according to His plan so that Karen and I would be in the Post Office at that exact same time, I marveled and how much He loves me. I stand in awe at how much He cares about my dream. I am empowered by His strength! I am boosted up by His intimate touch on my life.

By the way, while I was in the library returning my overdue books, Karen walked in. I smiled and laughed a little and told her that it looks like God had a "PLAN B" for us to meet here just in case we missed each other at the Post Office.