He had not spoken with her since high school and was enjoying their impromptu reunion. She had been his favorite teacher, one that had made a major impact on his life. And the impact went far beyond the facts and information she taught him. It was also the character she had role-modeled, the times she had stood beside him, and the faith she projected.

He proudly told her of the things he had accomplished and of his family, then asked her what had happened in her life for the last twenty years. “How’s Millie?” he asked, referring to an energetic, always-smiling eight-year-old he had often seen playing in her classroom after school. Her eyes suddenly became sad and misty as she told him that Millie had died a few years earlier. “She had an unexpected and unexplained heart attack when she was twenty-three.” He was stunned, of course. “I don’t know how it is possible to handle that,” he began. “I could never have the strength to handle the death of my child.”

After he finished speaking, his teacher presented him with one more bit of wisdom. “I’ve discovered that sometimes God does not give us the strength we need until we need it.” She continued, “But then when you do need it, you can always count on His providing it.”

Do you believe that? Will you choose to believe that? Where do you look for your strength, when the loss is so great?