Miracles in My Life – Bravo Pizza Edition

Signs, Miracles, Tender Mercies

Growing up, when something would go well, or there would be a neat coincidence, my sister and I would call it a sign. Signs that a boy we had a crush on liked us back, a sign that we would make the next flight, or a sign that we would get a letter from a boy that day. “It’s a sign!” we’d exclaim.

In 2005, Elder David A. Bednar gave a talk in General Conference about Tender Mercies (you can read it in it’s entirety here: Tender Mercies). He spoke about how the Lord knows us each individually and will send His tender mercies to let us know He is mindful of us. They are not random or coincidences, they are gifts from above. I want to share the signs/miracles/tender mercies in my life so that I remember the blessings I receive as a daughter of a loving Father in Heaven.

Bravo Pizza

When Matt and I were praying and trying to decide whether or not to buy Bravo Pizza, André, the original owner, told Matt a story. He said that one night he couldn’t sleep, and he was thinking about his mother who had passed away. Awake in his bed, tossing and turning, he was missing her. Speaking aloud to her, he said, “Mom, I’m tired. I need to find a buyer for my restaurant.” Not twelve hours later, Matt walked into Bravo Pizza and said, “André, are you ready to sell your business to me yet?” André knew that this was his answer, and when he told us this experience, we knew God was giving us our answer. I had goosebumps when I heard! We decided to go through with the purchase of Bravo Pizza and are now the happy owners of it.

Part Two

My whole life, I have gone to Avila Beach. My mom and I take the girls every Wednesday in the summer just like she took me and my siblings when I was little. On the day that we were closing escrow on the business, it was a Wednesday. I was driving and looking for a parking spot. I did a double take when I saw a man who looked just like André! Sure enough, it was him. When we parked, he was walking right by us and we chatted for a bit. I could not believe that in my 31+ years of going to Avila Beach that I have never seen him there, and on the day that we closed escrow on his business, I saw him there. It was a total confirmation to me/us that we were making the right decision!

I don’t think that there are any coincidences. I believe that our Father in Heaven and His Son, Jesus Christ, are guiding us, helping us, and cheering us on as we try to do our best in this life here on Earth. Tender mercies are their way of showing us.

Have you received any tender mercies in your life? I would love to hear them and will be sharing more of mine soon!