My wife forgot to get milk for her morning cup of coffee.

We were renting a house in the town where I grew up on Long Island, NY for a week and even on vacation I know she likes to have her coffee with milk to kick start her day.

So, when I woke up at 7am, I decided I was going to be a super husband and drive to the grocery store and get her milk before going to the gym to workout. We were driving to Boston that morning and I wanted to workout before we left, so getting the milk was an inconvenience that altered my morning plans.

While I’m in the checkout line buying the milk, I’m feeling pretty good about myself. I’m even telling myself, “She’s going to love this. She is going to wake up and walk to the fridge, see the new carton of milk and call me Saint Jon.”

On my drive back to the house, I’m in such deep thought about how great of a husband I am 🙂 that I didn’t realize I was going over the speed limit. A few minutes later, flashing lights appeared in my rear-view mirror and a police officer pulled me over and gave me a ticket. He said I could pay a fine, take the points and watch my insurance cost increase or appear in traffic court.

Appearing in court wasn’t an option since the court date was in December and I live in Florida, not NY.

I drove away frustrated that I got a ticket, when I didn’t even think I was speeding. I was frustrated that this happened as the result of me trying to do something nice for my wife. Are you kidding me? No good deed goes unpunished, I thought.

With the ticket, fine and insurance cost, it was going to be the most expensive milk I’ve ever bought, to create the most expensive cup of coffee ever.

I honestly wasn’t being very positive.

But then, I had a positive thought.

As the pessimistic optimist I am, I thought this had to have happened for a reason. I don’t know why but I think it’s going to lead to something good. After delivering the priceless milk to my wife for her coffee, I drove to the gym to workout.

While working out, a trainer and a woman he was training asked me if I was done with the bench I was using. I said I was and then asked them if they happened to know of a good traffic lawyer in the area because I just got a ticket and perhaps an attorney could appear in traffic court on my behalf.

The conversation continued and I learned that the woman’s son had played lacrosse for my rival school and sadly, he passed away from cancer, just a few years ago while still in college. The woman was obviously distraught and cried as she talked about him and his faithful fight and incredible spirit.

I was able to tell her and the trainer how I viewed death, dealt with the death of my parents, and shared thoughts and words that comforted her.

She said she was looking for a sign and perhaps this was one. I told her it was definitely a sign because if I didn’t get the traffic ticket, I wouldn’t have asked them if they knew of an attorney, and we wouldn’t have had this meaningful conversation.

She had felt the presence of her son recently and knew he didn’t want her to be angry and bitter anymore. We agreed this was a big initial step in her healing and moving forward.

As I drove away from the gym, I was no longer angry about the ticket. I realized I had to get the ticket in order for this woman to begin healing. The most expensive cup of coffee ever, was worth it.

I realized that we are all connected and sometimes we have to be inconvenienced and stressed for someone else to be blessed.

I’ve decided that from now on, when something doesn’t work out the way I want it to, I’m going to choose to believe there’s a bigger reason, a bigger lesson and bigger blessing that’s on the way.

Have a great week!