Luana and I recently celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. With it being the huge milestone that it was, we wanted to do something special. We also needed to stay close to home because Luana was still finishing off her RHN designation in holistic nutrition, and with exams and assignments due, we had to get back quickly.
We decided to drive to Toronto for several days and enjoy the comfort of a five-star hotel. Since it was a special occasion, we wanted to splurge a little. I mean, we scrimp and save so much throughout the year, even using coupons when we can, that with this being an once-in-a-lifetime event, we expected a lot. So six months prior, I booked an upscale 500-square-foot room in the heart of the city with plans to have dinner at the rotating restaurant at the top of the CN Tower while the sun was setting.
When the day finally came, it was raining. Suffice it to say, I was disappointed. We would not be able to see the sunset as I had hoped. Being the optimist that she was, Luana said, “Think about it, Jack. No kids. No responsibilities. I am so looking forward to soaking in a hot bath and enjoying the silence.”
Little did I realize God was setting us up for a huge blessing.
The night before, I had received an email from the hotel confirming the reservation. But something did not look right. Instead of $476 per-night that I was quoted when I had made the booking, the notification said the room would be $299 instead. The hotel gave us a free upgrade. I could not believe it.
But it did not end there. When God blesses, he blesses big.
Arriving at check-in, the concierge welcomed us, and we proceeded to complete the details for our stay. We exchanged pleasantries and then I asked about the tub.
“Is it a Jacuzzi or a soaker?”
“Neither. A shower.” He said. “A King bed and a shower.”
“Any chance of getting a tub?”
“Let me see what is available.”
As he typed away, Luana and I chatted about the Victorian décor and the elegant look to the lobby. We could not help but appreciate the rich architecture all around us.
“I have another room that may work for you.” The concierge said. “It is in our renovated wing. It is a step up from the original room. It has a tub and two Queen beds.”
Luana is practical, so she nixed the idea with one of those what-are-we-going-to-do-with-two-queen-beds look.
“This is the reason we have been married for twenty-five years.” I said. ”The original room will be fine.”
He laughed, and then went back to typing on his terminal. And for a while, there was silence. It was a good five minutes before he said anything else. “I have one more option. The room has a King bed and a tub. It also has a sitting room adjacent the bedroom. A bit more spacious than the room with the two Queens. Is that something you might be interested in?”
Was he kidding? Of course! When the concierge gave us our pass cards to the room, he also handed us two gift certificates. One was for two sparkling wines and the other was for a dessert of our choice at the hotel’s lounge that evening. We were at a loss for words. We did thank him eventually, but it took some time to realize God’s favor was on us and the best had yet to come.
After we reached the top floor of the hotel, Luana and I made our way to our room. By this time, we had had so many surprises spring up on us that we thought there could not be any more.
We were wrong. Our pass cards had two room numbers, which I thought was odd. We could enter our room through two doors from opposite ends of the hall.
Once inside, we dropped our bags, stunned. There was a King bed, bath, TV, sitting area in one room—yes, one room—and in the adjacent room was another bath, TV and sitting area. The hotel had given us a 1,000-square-foot room, which was almost $1,000 a night for $299.
The first thing we said to each other was, “This is God’s favor.”
We recognized it. We knew it. It was an extraordinary doing in an ordinary setting. No way could we have pulled off anything like this on our own. This was meticulously planned and perfectly executed. God’s hand was all over this one.
Later that evening we did end up having dinner at the top of the CN Tower. It was rainy, but Luana and I did not mind. We were together, and that is all that mattered.
We went back to the hotel for dessert.
Looking to God 
Congratulations and best wishes!
Very uplifting story Jack – thanks! God does bless us in ways we don’t expect and sometimes don’t recognize. It’s always more special when you can recognize His blessings!
Congratulations! What a wonderful story, I’m so happy for you! Thank you for sharing it with us! 🙂
God is amazing!!!!! The best Father!!!
Happy Anniversary to you and your bride and what a beautiful post about God’s gifts. He is always giving. We just have to wake up and remember this.
Ahh, happy anniversary! It sounds quite delightful. The Lord’s favor, indeed. 🙂
My husband and I went to Hawaii once and they had over booked the hotel. The only place they could put us, they actually called the gardener’s shed. That didn’t sound hopeful at all, but it was the most amazing cabin down a path and right on the beach. We could lay in bed and watch the sunset. Even better, every morning a lady with an espresso cart setup right next to us and actually bake goodies. So we would wake up to the smell of coffee and doughnuts. People at the hotel thought we were VIP guests and so did we.
Happy Anniversary!!! And because you SEE His blessing, acknowledge them and give Him the glory, that’s why He blessed you and will continue to bless you!!! I love these Divine Interventions that God blesses us with. God bless you and your lovely bride of 25 years.
A belated happy anniversary to you!
Happy Wedding Anniversary! This is such a beautiful piece and a reminder that God’s favor is real! Thank you so much for sharing and God bless you both!
nice post sir
and belated wedding anniversary wishes to you(jack) and luana
God be with you
Congratulations! You must please Him!