So often when we think of God intervening in our lives, we only consider or recognize it when something bad does not occur; absent its total prevention in our lives, it's easy to lull into the lie that God does not exist or care about us.
I am choosing today to praise God for all the miracles He does in my life. Providing a safe haven, work for my family, food on the table.
Last night I worked until 9:45pm. Through a string of circumstance, my DH did not come meet me at work, but went straight home (he was riding his motorcycle; his plan was to leave it at my work and ride in this AM with me.) By the time I found out he had forgotten to meet up, he was too far down the interstate to return.
I ended up leaving work about 10:15. I-30 is reasonably populated until you pass Rockwall. Once you pass Rockwall, there's "a lot of Texas country" until you hit the next "big" metropolis, Greenville. In between Greenville and Rockwall for us TMobile city folk, there's a lot of dark and a lot of dead cell phone space.
About 11pm, I hit something in my car, which took out my oil pan (I'm hoping that's all it is anyway.) As I pulled over to the side of the road, I realized this could turn out badly. Instead, the events unfolded to demonstrate the power of the miraculous hand of God.
1. Rather than the middle of dark nowhere, I broke down over an overpass surrounded by a 24 hour gas station, Taco Bell, McDonalds, and for an added coup de grace, a Holiday Inn Express. Did I mention the Almighty has been nagging at me for a week to start packing a backpack of emergency essentials in the trunk of my car? (backpack, food, water which I normally carry anyway, a sleeping bag.) I was "too busy" to put the stuff together, so God landed me here.
2. We got paid yesterday, and I was too busy at work to pay bills immediately (my normal MO) which would have brought my account to near zero.
3. The accident occurred a little outside Rockwall, still a TMobile service area. Four miles to the north, you're in a TMobile dead zone for about 10 miles; I would have had no way to get help.
4. AAA is big in Texas, and they refuse to just pull you off the road (too many state highways), they have to take you to the nearest repair station. My plan comes with 7 free miles, after that you have to pay per mile. Guess where Kia of Rockwall is located? 6.6 miles from where the accident happened.
5. The tow truck driver (I am in Texas, after all) really went the extra mile; staying with me until my family could arrive to take me home, getting all the drop off paperwork at Kia and putting it in the drop box for me while I stayed in the truck (about 200 yards from the locked gate, did I mention it was 40 degrees last night?)
6. I ran over a piece of engine from a semi-truck. The tow driver goes, "hey, you could take this metal and turn it over to a scrap yard and maybe get $60-80 for it." (He was serious.) I'm like, dude, you've already gone the extra mile. You keep it and sell it. He was like, "wow, really? Are you sure?" Yes dear, I'm sure. I don't even know where a scrap yard is, lol.
7. Have I mentioned Texans are the most polite people in the world, EXCEPT when they are driving. Usually no matter the conditions: rain, sleet, snow, fog, etc., they drive 80 miles an hour right on your **** tail. Not last night. Closest car behind me was 100 yards, well back enough for me to pull over safely.
8. You already know DH quit his job two weeks ago, the one with a company car provided. They were supposed to come get it last Wednesday (before Thanksgiving) but haven't yet. The battery died, but other than that, it's in excellent condition.
9. Our Go To neighbors (who live 15 miles from us) have been gone all week. They got home yesterday morning. My DD was able to reach them last night (at near midnight) have them come jumpstart my husband's company car which he was then able to use to come get me in Rockwall. They were willing to drive all the way from Greenville to Rockwall (that's 45 min one way) to come get me if need be. DH came and got me, you know, with the car which was supposed to be gone a week ago.
10. This morning I'll be able to either rent a car or get a loaner from Kia. Either way we will have transportation. My Go To neighbors just stopped by to see if the company car starting was a freak occurrence or if it is still good (it's still good.) But I wouldn't have even occurred to me to follow up if the situation was reversed!
We live in a fallen world. God can not and does not usually intervene in all the bad that happens. But more often than not, He extends His hands and softens the blow, we just have to choose to see it.
