Stepping Away from the Ordinary
Since December 26th, our family has been in Quebec City. We came here with a simple intention—to step away from the rhythm of our everyday lives and to breathe again. Life, even when filled with blessings, can quietly become heavy. Responsibilities accumulate. Routines repeat. Before we realize it, our souls begin to crave stillness, beauty, and renewal.
Quebec City had been on our hearts for a long time. We had spoken about it more than once, imagining its old streets, its European charm, and its winter atmosphere. We knew it would be cold—very cold—but somehow the cold felt inviting. We believed that if we were willing to endure the chill, we might discover something warm beneath it.
What we did not know was that God had already planned more than a vacation for us. He had written an itinerary far richer than sightseeing, one that would gently remind us that no encounter is accidental when our lives are placed in His hands.
A City That Felt Like a Living Story
From the moment we arrived, Quebec City surpassed my imagination. The air was sharp and crisp, yet alive with laughter, footsteps, and voices from every corner of the world. People had traveled far to experience this place, and despite the freezing temperatures, the city felt vibrant and full of warmth.
Old Quebec City looked like a giant Christmas village—cobblestone streets dusted with snow, glowing lights reflecting off historic buildings, and a sense of timelessness that made us slow our pace. It felt as though the city itself was inviting us to pause, to notice, to remember.
As I walked through those streets, I felt gratitude rising in my heart. Gratitude for the journey God has taken us on, across countries and cultures. Gratitude for my family walking beside me. Gratitude even for the cold, which somehow made every shared cup of coffee and every moment indoors feel more precious.
Still, at that point, I believed this trip was simply a gift of rest. I did not yet realize it was also a divine appointment.
A Change of Plans
One day, the weather was less cooperative. The wind cut through our coats, and the cold seemed to settle deep into our bones. We decided it would be wiser to spend the day indoors rather than pushing ourselves through outdoor activities.
Our first stop was Le Grand Marché de Québec, an indoor public market full of color, movement, and life. Inside, the warmth wrapped around us immediately. Vendors called out cheerfully, aromas of food filled the air, and people wandered slowly, enjoying the shelter from the winter outside.
We took our time, strolling past different stands, admiring local products, and soaking in the atmosphere. Eventually, we decided to have lunch at one of the restaurants upstairs.
It seemed like a completely ordinary decision. But as Scripture reminds us, “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps” (Proverbs 16:9).
A Face from the Past
As we walked toward the stairs that led upstairs, my eyes caught sight of a man sitting alone. Something about him stirred my heart. He looked familiar—too familiar to ignore.
At first, I told myself it was impossible. We were in Quebec City, in a specific restaurant, at a specific moment. Both families were outside the country. The odds were almost nonexistent.
And yet, my heart knew before my mind could reason.
I quietly told my husband and our son that I thought I recognized him. They dismissed the idea gently, thinking I was imagining things. It made sense. We had not been in contact with this couple since leaving New Jersey, though they had never left our hearts. We had even spoken about them during this trip, wondering how they were doing. But coincidence? Surely not.
Still, I could not shake the feeling.
Then I said something that surprised even me. I told them, “For now, he is alone. But if this is truly who I believe he is, then his wife will arrive soon and sit next to him. Then we will know.”
I was not testing fate. I was listening to a quiet confidence in my spirit—a gentle nudge that felt familiar, like the whisper of God saying, Watch.
When God Confirms What He Has Planted
Just a few minutes later, a woman approached the table. She stood beside him briefly before sitting down. Because she was standing, we could clearly see her face.
My heart leapt.
“There she is,” I said, almost breathless.
My husband and our son froze, stunned. Then, without hesitation, we all rushed toward them.
The moment of recognition was overwhelming. Surprise, joy, disbelief—all collided at once. We stood there laughing, speaking at the same time, unable to fully grasp what was happening.
They were just as shocked as we were. Seeing us there, in that exact place, without any appointment or prior communication, felt unreal to all of us.
And yet, deep down, I knew: this was not random.
Reuniting Hearts God Had Already Connected
We spent time together, sharing stories, catching up on years of life that had passed too quickly. We spoke about our families, our journeys, and the ways God had continued to lead us—even when our paths seemed to diverge.
They told us something that deeply touched my heart. Whenever they come to Quebec City, they think about us. Because it is a French-speaking city, it reminds them of us. And here we were—standing before them, as if God had responded to an unspoken thought.
They were the first people who welcomed us into their home when we had just arrived in the United States. We were new, uncertain, and unfamiliar with American traditions. They invited us to share Thanksgiving dinner, patiently explaining what the celebration meant and opening their table—and their hearts—to us.
At their weekly house group, we shared life together. We prayed, we cried, we rejoiced. We testified to what God had done and trusted Him for what was yet to come. Those gatherings shaped us more than we realized at the time.
Then COVID came. Doors closed. Gatherings stopped. Life scattered people in different directions. Eventually, we moved to Pennsylvania, and contact faded—not because love diminished, but because life became complicated.
Yet God never forgot the connection He had created.
A Divine Appointment, Not a Coincidence
As we sat together in that restaurant, I felt a deep conviction in my spirit: this meeting was not casual. It was intentional.
Scripture tells us, “The steps of a good person are ordered by the Lord” (Psalm 37:23). God did not merely allow this encounter—He arranged it.
Out of all the days we could have chosen to visit the market. Out of all the restaurants in Quebec City. Out of all the times we could have climbed those stairs—God chose this moment.
He reminded me that relationships formed in Him are never truly lost. They may be paused, tested, or stretched across distance, but they remain held together by His faithfulness.
Remembering God’s Faithfulness Through People
This meeting awakened memories I had not revisited in a long time. Memories of vulnerability, of starting over, of learning to trust God in a foreign land. God had used this couple as instruments of His grace at a critical moment in our lives.
Seeing them again felt like God saying, “I have been with you then, and I am with you now.”
It was as if He gently pulled back the curtain, reminding us that our story is still unfolding, and that He continues to weave people into it with purpose.
Looking Toward What God Will Do Next
Before we parted, I gave them our new address. We spoke about the future—not with detailed plans, but with hopeful expectation. We will invite them to spend a weekend with us. We will open our home, just as they once opened theirs to us.
I do not know exactly what God intends to do through this renewed connection. But I trust that He does nothing without purpose. Perhaps this meeting was simply meant to encourage us. Perhaps it was meant to remind us of His faithfulness. Or perhaps it is the beginning of something new that we cannot yet see.
What I do know is this: God delights in surprising His children. He meets us in unexpected places, at unexpected times, and through unexpected people.
A Quiet Prayer of Trust
As I reflect on this encounter, my heart is filled with awe. Awe at God’s timing. Awe at His gentleness. Awe at the way He orchestrates our lives with such precision and care.
This experience has strengthened my faith. It reminded me that even when we believe we are simply taking a break, God is still at work. Even when we think we are wandering, He is guiding. Even when connections seem distant, He is preserving them.
I place the future in His hands, trusting that the same God who arranged a meeting in a restaurant in Quebec City will continue to lead our steps—faithfully, lovingly, and purposefully.
And so I wait with expectation, knowing that when God brings people together, it is never without reason.