Ashley, covered in prayer

When I came home from the hospital after Bill died I could not sleep.

I called my doctor.

He called in a prescription.

One of my kids picked it up for me.

I used that little pill to help me sleep for about six months.

Now, without it, I get about six uninterrupted hours of sleep a night, 

not enough to thrive, but enough to keep going. 

I rarely wake up, and if I do, I quickly fall back to sleep.

Ashley and those grieving with her have been heavy on my heart.

I prayed for them before going to sleep Thursday night.

Fell asleep fairly quickly and easily.

And woke up at 2:48 AM. 

Wide awake.

With an urgency to pray, so I did.

Then I felt the need to text her but did not have her number.

I remembered I had the number of a friend I thought was with her.

I debated.

I hoped she was sleeping and did not want to chance waking her.

I sent a FB message, thinking that was a safe option.

I thought it would allow me to go back to sleep.

It did not.

The urgency only increased.

I have learned from past experiences, to just "go with it."

So I sent the text.

(My messages are in the green bubbles.)

I was hoping she would see it when she woke up.

That she would know I meant it when I said text or call anytime.

The good news is that I did not wake her.

I got this response immediately:

I was not surprised she did not know who it was. 

We had exchanged numbers just a few hours before.

I did not expect her to have added me to her contacts yet.

I got this response next:

YIKES!

What in the world?
I had texted a stranger in the middle of the night!

I was embarrassed, even though I did not know who it was.

I was hoping I had not awakened them.

Then I got this text:

I figured that since I had already opened this can of worms

I may as well finish strong

so I replied,

hoping that the unknown person would be less annoyed
once they knew why I had bothered them at 2:55 AM:

This was the last text I received.

I cried happy, thankful tears, praising God for the way He works.
I got one digit wrong when I entered the contact information.
God used my error to add to the prayer warriors working at 3 AM.
I don't think that is the only time the stranger will intercede.
Ashley, day and night you and your babies are covered in prayer.