Jewish Connections at Panera

During a recent visit of dear friends, they repaid our hospitality by leaving a gift card to Panera Bread as a token of their thanks.  Feeling tired after nearing the end of our Spring Break, we decided to use our gift card last night.

An elderly man followed me in and took his spot behind us in the line to place his order.  Not knowing what we wanted, I told him that he could go in front of us since we were still deciding.  He casually said that he comes every night for dinner, ordering the same thing.  I made a mental note of it.

We order.  He is on my heart.  My family grabs seats for us as I finish paying.  As I'm making my way through the restaurant, I see the old man, sitting at a table by himself.  I feel compelled to ask him if he would like to join our family at our table.

He looks at me - pauses - and then asks me if I had overheard his conversation with the girl behind the counter.  I answered that I had not but just felt as if I was supposed to ask him if he'd like company.  He proceeds to tell me that he lost his wife of 64 years just 10 days before.  In his grief, he was afraid he would not be good company.  Acknowledging his loss and my sympathy for his circumstances, I asked him once more to join us.  As he politely declined, I noticed the faintest hint of a accent.  I ask him where he was from.  His answer - Germany.

As I share what transpired with my family, my Chris wanted to get some contact information from him just as we notice the old man heading toward the exit.  Minutes later, we find ourselves in conversation.  He is a Jewish German who, at 15 years of age, was sent to American by his mother to escape the fate of her fellow Jewish citizens.  He says he would love to meet for coffee and share his story.

Why share all this?  The universe rotates on it's axises and life events do not happen willy nilly.  God, the author of all things and coordinator of all events, allowed us to be blessed by an 88 year old Jewish German right smack in the middle of Oklahoma.  Modern day miracles still happen.  We happened to receive one at Panera Bread last night.  Amazing.

Still shaking my head in wonder,
christina