One summer in Hungary our family traveled across the country by train. The day was hot, our assigned car was packed, and we sweltered with only an open window for ventilation. Overwhelmed, our three year old daughter looked around and started to cry. As my wife comforted her and I took care of our boys, I thought, this is going to be a miserable train ride.

Then the unexpected. A lady sitting across from us pulled a few cherries from her luggage. Hungary produces fabulous cherries, and these were cold and fresh. She shared one with our daughter whose eyes lit up. The rest of that long afternoon our daughter shared a seat with a Hungarian angel and happily munched on cherries.

Sometimes good things come to us we neither expect or deserve—like the kindness of a stranger.

The good people of Malta hosted the shipwrecked passengers and crew from Paul’s ill-fated voyage across the Mediterranean. The chief man of the island (Publius) poured on the hospitality. Then Paul returned the favor: It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him, healed him. And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured.

Along with healing the sick, Paul preached during his three month stay. The gospel spread rapidly and many people followed Jesus. According to tradition, the shipwreck and subsequent work of Paul and his companions launched the faith in Malta which continues to this day.

For no reason of their own God blessed the people of Malta. Sometimes God blesses out of the blue (or in this case, out of the storm). I don’t know what’s coming, nor can I plan ahead for its arrival. Like a cold cherry on a hot day, I can simply enjoy God’s favors when they arrive and remain grateful for His continued goodness in my life.

Acts 28:1-10

Photo by Anna Bratiychuk