I was driving home from a work when my car started to choke and sputter and died.
I barely managed to coast, cruising, into a gas station, glad only that I
would not be blocking traffic on the highway 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
to the next door 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 nearby. 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 the rent January 1st, and finally, in
desperation, had 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 and 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, 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 for a check, but I suspect
the mechanic won't find anything wrong.