|
I
was driving home from a meeting
this evening about 5, stuck in traffic
on Colorado Blvd
and the car started to choke and splutter
and die - I barely managed to coast,
cursing, into a gas station,
glad only that I would not be blocking traffic
and would have a somewhat warm spot
to wait for the tow truck.
It wouldn't even turn over.
Before I could make the call,
I saw a woman walking out of the
"quickie mart" building, and it looked like
she slipped on some ice and fell into
a gas pump, so I got out to see if she was okay.
When I got there, it looked more like
she had been overcome by sobs
than that she had fallen;
she was a young woman who looked really
haggard with dark circles under her eyes.
She dropped something as I helped her up,
and I picked it up to give it to her.
It was a nickel.
At that moment, everything came
into focus for me:
the crying woman, the ancient Suburban
crammed full of stuff with 3 kids in the back
(1 in a car seat),
and the gas pump reading $4.95.
I asked her if she was okay
and if she needed help, and she just kept saying
"I don't want my kids to see me crying,"
So we stood on the other side
of the pump from her car.
She said she was driving to California
and that things were very hard for
her right now. So I asked,
"And you were praying?"
That made her back away from me
a little but I assured her I was not
a crazy person and said,
"He heard you, and He sent me."
I took out my card and swiped it
through the card reader on the pump
so she could fill up her car completely.
And while it was fueling walked next door
to the McDonald's
and bought 2 big bags of food, some gift certificates for more, and a big
cup of coffee.
She gave the food to the kids in the car
who attacked it like wolves, and we stood by the pump eating fries and
talking a little.
She told me her name,
and that she lived in Kansas City.
Her boyfriend left 2 months ago and she had not been able to make ends
meet.
She knew she wouldn't have money
to pay rent Jan 1,
and finally in desperation had finally called
her parents, with whom she had not spoken
in about 5 years.
They lived in California and said she
could come live with them
and try to get on her feet there.
So she packed up everything she owned
in the car. She told the kids they were
going to California for Christmas,
but not that they were going to live there.
I gave her my gloves, a little hug
and said a quick prayer with her
for safety on the road.
As I was walking over to my car, she said,
"So, are you like an angel or something?"
This definitely made me cry.
I said, "Sweetie, at this time of year
angels are really busy, so sometimes
God uses regular people."
It was so incredible to be a part of
someone else's miracle.
And of course, you guessed it,
when I got in my car it started right away
and got me home with no problem.
I'll put it in the shop tomorrow to check,
but I suspect the mechanic won't find
anything wrong.
Sometimes the angels fly
close enough to you
that you can hear the flutter of their wings ...
Psalms 55:22
"Cast thy burden upon the Lord,
and He shall sustain thee He shall never
suffer the righteous to be moved."
Instructions were
to pick four people that I wanted
God to bless,
especially for the New Year of 2006,
and I picked you...
Please pass this to
four people you want to be
blessed.
This prayer is powerful and prayer is
one of the best gifts we receive.
There is no cost but a lot of rewards,
let's continue to pray for one another.
Here is the prayer:
"Father,
I ask You to bless my children,
grandchildren, friends, relatives
and email buddies reading this right now.
Show them a new revelation
of your love and power.
Holy Spirit, I ask You to minister
to their spirit at this very moment.
Where there is pain,
give them Your peace and mercy.
Where there is self doubt,
release a renewed confidence
through Your grace,
In Jesus' precious name.
Amen."
I know I picked more than four
and you can, too.
|
