Coincidence- a remarkable occurrence of events that happen at the same time by total accident.

‟Coincidences” might be remarkable, but I don’t think they are accidents. Naming something a coincidence is an easy way we explain unexpected events and surprises. ‟Coincidences” are just another way for God to act in your life. I have 4 stories for you to help explain why I don’t believe in coincidences!!!

1. The night before my birthday, one of my 5th grade teachers, Angeline Nix, was asking me if she could bring me lunch the next day. When she got out of her car the next morning, the first thing she told me was that she had no idea it was my birthday and had just found out that morning! She was so excited and continued to say, ‟Maybe God was just telling me you needed a special birthday lunch!” I agree with Mrs. Nix! She didn’t have to know it was my birthday.. God knew, and Mrs. Nix was just the perfect person for Him to send.

2. A few months ago, I had a vocational rehab meeting to talk about college and jobs that were right for me. While I was there, I talked to my doctor about getting a gait trainer, which is kind of like a walker with wheels on it that also has supports for my arms. He told me he wanted me to work on getting in my standing frame more for now and we could talk about it again in a few months. Later, we were filling out paperwork with a lady in another room. I was explaining why I wanted the gait trainer— since I was taking a break from therapy, I still wanted to be able to stand for a long period of time and I feel like I would be doing more of it on my own with the gait trainer than in the standing frame. A PT came in while we were talking about it and told me he had just gotten a gait trainer that needed to be repaired. As soon as he fixed it he would just give it to me. It would be very complicated to order one through insurance so I feel like God was making the process as simple as possible.

3. We are alllwaaays looking for nurses —so if you know one that needs a side job, you know who to call?— but, at one time specifically, we really needed one. So when mom met Pat, a nurse, at the post office she just had to tell her about me and asked if she wanted to work with me. Turns out, she had just moved here and was looking for a new job! Pat later told me that she never ever goes the post office. She just happened to be there right when we needed her and I definitely think God placed her and my mom there at the same time!

4. During volleyball season, I would see Renee Bowen, a chiropractor, pretty regularly.. So, after my accident, when I first got home from the hospital, she came to my house for a few months to help me work out! Over the past few weeks, one of my nurses, Danielle, had been telling me I should try going to a chiropractor to help with some of my back pain and one morning I finally decided to take her advice. I told Jerrica I was going to text the chiropractor and see if she would come see me. About 2 hours later, we were going into my brother’s office in downtown Jasper and I heard someone behind me say, ‟Oh my goodness, I haven’t seen her in forever.” I couldn’t place the voice though but when they got in front of me, I couldn’t believe it!!! It was Renee! I told her how I was just planning on texting her because my back had been hurting. She felt of it, told me I had a rib out of place, and adjusted it right there!

God is not just in charge of the big events in our lives but also the little things that happen everyday. So, maybe next time you start to say, ‟What a coincidence!” think about how God just might be working something out for you!!!