“Hello? Hello?”
“Can you help me?”
The hotel desk clerk looked up and saw the woman on the other side of the counter…
She was in her 60’s, looked very confused and was dragging two heavy suitcases.
“I‘m staying here tonight before my wedding, and I don’t know what to do or how to find my room or anything…”
“Can you help me?”
The clerk checked her in…
“Here are your keys. You’re in room 209.”
“The elevator is over there.” she said pointing.
“When you get to the second floor, go left.”
The desk clerk hesitated…
She could see the woman was uncertain…
She was the only employee on duty.
She wasn’t supposed to leave the desk, but….
She put up a “Back in 5 Minutes” sign and took the bride to her room.
The next day was the wedding…
The bride was nervous.
Had she forgotten anything?
The reception! She hadn’t booked a reception.
“Can you help?” she asked me.
Book a reception. Two hours before the wedding. In a strange city.
No problem.
I went to the front desk clerk …
Did they have a room we could use?
She took me to the only meeting room in the small hotel.
It was strewn from one end to the other with paper and debris.
“The room costs 200 dollars.” She said. “But we can’t possibly have it ready in two hours.”
I mentioned that I wanted the room for a wedding reception for a guest in the hotel.
“Did she check in last night?” the clerk asked.
“Yes.” I replied.
She paused.
“Why am I doing this?” she asked herself.
She didn’t know. She only knew it was the right thing to do.
“The reception room”, she said, “will be ready on time. And there’s no charge.”
Where could I get food?
“Leave that to me.” she said….
She found a local restaurant, arranged catering and negotiated a discount.
The reception was a success…
The bride was happy.
All because one person, in the middle of a busy work day, listened to God…
And shared his love with a total stranger…
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. John 13:34
This is the second of three stories about God’s presence on a remarkable wedding day.
To see how the story began, read the story of the dressmaker.
