It’s easier to hear God’s voice and know you’re in His plan when “the planets align.”  That is, when parallel, unrelated events occur simultaneously and fit together so perfectly that it had to have been orchestrated, it couldn’t just happen.

I had something like that happen today.  It all started with an organic chicken sale a few days ago.  The price was so low and the chicken so organic that I bought one, and invited a friend over for a baked chicken lunch.

Of course, there was a lot of chicken – meat and bone – left over after our lunch.  So, I decided to make homemade chicken soup.  It’s not something I make every day.  In fact, I have never made it before!  I have partaken of my mom’s homemade chicken soup, many times, but even though it was always delicious, I never was curious enough to ask how she made it.  Until now.  I placed a call to my mom, she walked me through the chicken soup-making process, and I set the pot out with the chicken bone, spices, onions, and water to simmer overnight.

I wasn’t able to “finish” the soup until the next night.  I added rice and more vegetables, spices, and chicken, and the result was a delicious, steaming, bowl of chicken soup for dinner.  Yum.  There was plenty of soup, enough for two large containers.  I thought, “maybe I should give some soup away to the church”, but talked myself out of it.  It wasn’t a real meal, and besides, I could freeze it and save it for another meal for myself.

This is where the planets started aligning.  I had no sooner put the soup into the containers, intending to freeze one, that an email arrived from my church, marked urgent.  Someone had been in the hospital and was in need of a meal.  I read further.  She couldn’t have anything but soft food.  Chicken soup would be ideal.

At that moment, I knew.  My soup was not going into the freezer, it was going to the church.  God somehow had this person in mind when I carefully simmered my soup overnight, stirring in the spices and vegetables and rice.  I had no idea my soup would be needed.  But He did.

What did God teach me?  That God is still working all things together for those who love Him.  Using all things for His purpose.  Even chicken soup.  Even me. On a day when nothing seemed right and everything seemed fragmented, this “coincidence” renewed my hope.

His lessons don’t always present as neatly as a package tied up in a bow.  But when it does, my heart overflows with gratitude to my God, who cares for the minute details, right down to what ingredients we put in our soup.

No wonder the Chicken Soup for the Soul book became a best-seller…