So, yesterday my
check engine light finally came on, after my truck has been jerking back and
forth for 3 weeks now and my RPM's pings down. I thought I had gotten bad fuel
at a WaWa upon one of our house hunting trips up North. I had a friend/neighbor
look at it and he thought it might have been a sensor on the side of my
transmission because my check engine light never came on. So, I had it replaced
just to be safe. Nothing happened and the truck was still not running right.
Yesterday, as I was
running all over town handling things for our move and picking up a
prescription at Rite Aid with my mom and kids….it finally happened. That little
yellow CHECK ENGINE light came on and my truck dinged at me! So I headed
straight to the nearest auto place. I went in and explained what was going on
and the guy recommended getting a diagnostic check….so I did. After all, riding
in an unsafe car with kids in 100* weather is a sure NO –NO and recipe for
disaster!!!
While my truck was in
the bay, I sat out in front talking with
the gentleman that I spoke to when I first came in for a little over an hour.
We talked about cars and kids, cancer, losing a loved one, America falling to
pieces, his past military affiliation, how he had a car messing up on him…and I
too had 2 cars that were messing up on me! LOL We discussed the presidential
race, the churches we go to, and how America has forgotten where we really come
from. That the love of Jesus wasn’t here anymore and people’s priorities are
not in place.
After we got done with
our conversation…which I enjoyed very much, the tech comes out and states that
the problem with my truck is that my spark plugs and coils went bad. The total
came to almost $200.00 including labor. I didn't say anything other than “how long can
I drive my truck like that without something happening and it getting worse?” The guy looked at me with his head turned and
tucked in his lips. Then and said, “Now listen to me darlin’…you go right down
to the auto parts store and take this list. (he hands me a yellow piece of
paper with his handwritten notes) “Buy
these parts, meet me at the shop tomorrow morning around 9am, and bring $30 dollars
with ya...alright?” I stood there for a minute just looking at him with the
feeling of an all too familiar presence by me. Then grabbed his hand, held it
tightly and said thank you! I did as
he asked me….and went home.
So today, after I
drop Isaiah off at church because today is the youth group fun day at King’s
Dominion and King’s Fest Concert…I head to drop my truck off around 9’ish like
he told me, and my mom comes to get me and the girls. I am not too happy with
how things seem to be all over the place, but I knew something was bubbling up
quickly.
Good or bad. I didn’t
know, but we walk by faith….especially in the moments of the unknown!
Not too long ago… I
get a call saying that my truck was done. The same gentleman I had sat there
with, was very persistent about coming to MY house to pick me and my daughters
up to take it for a ‘test drive’ before checking out. I had a ‘feeling’
in my stomach that said, “NO WAY…you don’t know this man and your husband is
NOT home!” But…with no ride and it not too far away from the shop it was worked
on, I had contemplated it GULP! I called my mom of course and asked her opinion
about it. She stated that she was too far away and had absolutely NO way back
here right now… so I reluctantly agreed to his offer.
This gentleman shows
up at our house with his 6 year old son riding with him in my truck. He gets
out and says, “She’s riding real smooth for ya , now go get those keys to this
GTO right here.” I looked at him again, no words…just a bizarre look upon my
face, went into the house to get the keys, and did as he asked of me. No questions asked, for I didn’t know
what to say. I came back out and handed them to him…he walked to the front of
my husband’s car, asked me to hop in, pop the hood, and start her up. I did as he asked of me. He asks
me for a cup and if my water spout on the front of the house worked. I did as he asked me.
Then he poured water
in the radiator, walked over to check the light that had come on and the thermostat
meter that was reading HOT….again. He told me to get in it and he will drive my
truck back to the shop. “Your gonna leave it here until Monday and I will have
it ready for you.” He said. “It’s your thermostat and it’s stuck….” I looked at
him and asked how much it was to fix it. He looked at me and said, “Don’t you
worry about it”…….just do as I ask.
I did as he asked of me….
I drove home in my
truck with the girls right away, and called my grandmother from the driveway
once I pulled in. I told her what happened to me. How this stranger treated me.
How he just seem to make everything all
right…. for me. No questions asked. Nothing in return. But what he gave to me
was priceless. His compassion, love, and eagerness to bless me and my family,
was humbling. I am ashamed in many ways. I was scared I didn’t have enough to
take care of all the things needed before our move, yet I ever made it known to
him. I have allowed stress to overtake my day…my week…this whole deployment,
and sometimes …honestly OFTEN,
forgetting to praise My LORD in my storm. I did not know this man, but he
seemed to know me. I am not worthy of his gift, but God’s mercy and grace
towards me has shown that maybe, through all my trials of fear –vs- faith… I
am?
The look upon my face
as I glanced constantly at this man, may have seemed odd to him…or maybe not.
But he will never know how blessed I really am to have been able to see in a stranger,
…someone so dear to me.
His face
His heart
His hands…..
I was looking at my ‘Papa’. This man’s
resemblance in face, character, the smell of the days hard work in a greasy
shop as he worked with diligent hands; that behold the scars of his youth. The words
exactly how they were spoken and so straight forward…..was like seeing the most
humble of souls so long been compressed. For I fight myself daily to think of
him.
The pain. The
memories.
The reality of the
words,
“It’s Over…never again will he be here for you”…
Because the pain is unbearable
it forces me to try not to think of the past.
It is the past….he is
in the past.
As I sit and write
this now….I am amazed, humbled, and so joyful. My LORD has given me a glimpse of him as He
does know all my needs and cares. He hears my cries however silent they may be.
The LORD knew I needed him, my Papa…my Dad. I needed to SEE, that while I don’t
have him here with me anymore, God still wants me to know and remember that
death does not mean forever. It means until next time…..and maybe this was just
that……my ‘next’ time.
Thank you Lord…just
thank you
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