Blessings in the Smallest Moments

Sometimes, blessings don’t show up as promotions, lottery wins, or dream vacations. Sometimes, they slip quietly into your life in the smallest, most unexpected ways.

The other night, after work, I was hosting some Spanish friends at the restaurant in Uluwatu where I work. It was their last night in Bali, and they wanted to spend it at the place where I work. Everyone was happy, the food was amazing, and we had a good laugh together.

On my way back to their table after checking in with the security team—asking how they were doing and if they got the team-building meals yesterday—I noticed a senior couple sitting near them. Something nudged me to stop and check on them.

I asked how their night was going, how they liked the dinner, and if they needed anything. They told me they were just waiting for their taxi. That simple check-in turned into a conversation, and I asked if I could sit with them. They said yes with the warmest smiles.

Meet Mr. Marc and Mrs. Lisa from Australia.

They were funny, kind, and so genuine. They’ve been visiting Bali for years, usually staying in Jimbaran, and this time they explored Lombok and Lembongan. We laughed about travel stories, and I told them about my hometown Yogyakarta. Marc even guessed I was from South America at first, and I laughed,

“No, sir, I’m Indonesian—from Surabaya.”

Then he got curious about my family.

“Where are your parents from?” he asked.

I smiled and said, “Well, it’s a bit of a mix, actually. I’ve got Javanese, Maduranese, Arab, and Chinese blood in me. My mom is from Central Java, and my dad is from East Java—so two very different characters, cultures, and attitudes all mixed in me.”

He listened with that warm, fascinated look only a genuine person gives.

Then came the cheeky questions.

“Are you married?” he asked with a grin.

I laughed, “Not yet.”

“Do you have an Australian boyfriend?” he teased.

I laughed again and told him I didn’t, but I was once close to an Australian man who came to Bali for a surf trip. Then I half-joked, “Maybe I’m not his type… or maybe he just didn’t like me enough.”

Marc shook his head with this fatherly expression and said softly,

“I don’t understand why he wouldn’t want to be with you. You are a really, really nice girl.”

We talked more about my siblings, my life in Bali, and the restaurant group where I work. He even gave me a sweet compliment on my smile and, before leaving, predicted,

“You will get married very soon. Maybe in one month!”

When their taxi arrived, Marc shook my hand and said,

“You are a really nice girl, Elista. Really, really nice.”

I walked back to my friends’ table with my heart full. I had approached Marc and Lisa feeling tired, a little lonely, and overwhelmed. But I walked away warm and smiling, reminded that blessings often come in quiet ways—a kind word from a stranger, a laugh shared across cultures, or a moment of connection you never planned.

Even in hard seasons, we can still be a blessing to others. And sometimes, strangers can become the very blessing our hearts were waiting for. 💛