The Little Red Ball

When we moved to Kenny’s last duty station we spent the first eight days in a hotel.  The first night we arrived we had some trouble with the room so we were changed to a different room, a suite, the next morning.  I worked in a hotel for a few years so I am one that can be very picky when it comes to hotel rooms.  When we got into the room I immediately began to check both areas of the suite to make sure that it was clean.  I started in the bedroom area and after that, I planned to work my wake back up to the front.  All of my kids were in the front area.  Jared and Mariah were on the floor playing with Joel while Jeremiah was putting things away. Kenny was out of the room finishing gathering the remainder of our things from the first room.  After checking the bedroom area, I went back into the living room area to check on the kids and to do my cleanliness inspection. When I walked in the first thing I saw was Joel about to put something in his mouth.  I went over to him because I could not fathom what he would have had in his hand by it being that the room had just been cleaned and vacuumed. 

Well, to my surprise, he had found a little red ball somewhere on the floor.  I immediately took it from him and had the kids look around the room for other little balls or anything else that may have been left behind.  We did find some trash and food wrappers, however, there were no more balls.  I was furious!  Some of the people close to me know my struggle with fearing that something may happen to my kids.  I still deal with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from the loss of our baby girls.  I called down to the front desk and I expressed my concerns to the front desk manager.  I was almost in tears because in a matter of seconds my baby could have choked on that little red ball.  I was angry with the lady that cleaned the room as well as myself for not seeing it when we got into the room.  The fact that we had issues before surely did not make this any better.

The front desk manager was very nice and understanding.  She apologized and stated that she would speak with the lady that cleaned the room.  We were even given a free night’s stay but I was still upset.  I told her that I would be down to the front desk because I wanted her to see the ball.  When I got down there the employee that cleaned the room was there.  She smiled and said hello.  Honestly, I had an attitude and was not acting Christ-like at that moment.  I spoke but it was dry.  Later that morning when we were on our way to breakfast the young lady stopped me and apologized for not seeing the ball. She explained that she was rushing to get the room cleaned because they were short of staff and she did not intentionally overlook anything.  She then proceeded to cry a heartfelt cry.  I knew that this young lady was genuine and not trying to play the victim.  She was truly taking responsibility.  By this time Kenny was walking out of the room.  I hugged her and told her that it was okay.  She was very upset she could have caused harm to Joel.  I too almost cried because immediately my heart was softened. The young lady explained how she did not have any children but had only had several miscarriages and the last thing she would want to do was to cause harm to anyone else’s baby.  I apologized to her as well for my response to her and explained my PTSD issue due to the loss of our babies. 

At that moment I saw God take a situation that could have been devastating and turn it into something beautiful.  This woman and I had been through some of the same pain and neither one of us had any idea.  The rest of our stay there was great.  The young lady was always so sweet to us and our kids.  She gave them candy and she had such a sweet spirit about her.  I truly appreciated the fact that she chose to come to me as a woman and sincerely apologize.  She had no idea how I would respond to her but she took the chance.  The front desk manager also told me how upset she was but thanked me for making them aware. I also realized then that I have more work to do on myself in that area and that I must continue to learn how to trust God with my kids.  I walked into that room just in time and I give God all of the glory.  So, instead of a letter complaining the corporate office will get a letter commending and complementing this wonderful woman.  Sometimes we have to allow God to show us the good in situations.  At that time I needed some things and that young lady has no idea how much her apology and acknowledgment of everything meant to me.  Sometimes God will use the people we least expect as well as the things we least expect.  Who would have ever known that such a lesson would come from a little red ball?