Godwinks
By Kim Roberts
My youngest daughter’s second-grade teacher would talk about “Godwinks” during class. I remember wondering what that was, because I had never heard that term before.
For those that are unfamiliar with Godwinks, it is an event or personal experience, often identified as a coincidence, so astonishing that it is seen as a sign of divine intervention, especially when perceived as the answer to a prayer.
I hadn’t given a lot of thought to this term until I was writing a story about Ms. Scott years later for our parish newsletter, and she mentioned Godwinks and how she was always on the lookout for them.
Again, I didn’t give it a lot of thought and just wrote the story.
It wasn’t until a few weeks ago that it hit me that I had been the recipient of Godwinks for some time now. I just hadn’t been paying attention.
A very dear friend had passed away a little over a year ago, and I now work in the parish he spent his life working in. I have thought I should be getting signs that he is OK or just a little “Hey Kim” every now and then.
I think I was looking so hard that I was overlooking the little signs or Godwinks.
A few months ago, on a particularly challenging day, my phone lit up and I received a message with a Snapchat friend request from him. I was shocked to see his name on my phone, then brushed it off that his Facebook account was hacked. Yet, I did cheer up after getting the message.
Just a few weeks ago, on the day we were celebrating my birthday at work, I got the same message, and it gave me pause. The next week, I brought my favorite flowers to put on my desk, and our maintenance supervisor came in my office and said he know where I can get tons of those flowers.
I asked where, and he said, “Coach’s old courtyard.” I was shocked. I had been in that courtyard a thousand times over the years and never saw a gardenia bush and, now, there they were everywhere.
I looked up and said OK, I see the signs now. Thank you, God, for teaching me a valuable lesson today. I will be more open to signs of divine intervention now.
I am crying…tears of joy! Yes, if we are open, God & the saints, send us little messages when we need them the most. There is no such thing as coincidence! I love you Kim!