[CS-FSLUG] Friends are God's way of taking care of us.

[Fred A. Miller]

"Friends are God's way of taking care of us," 
    written by a Hospice of Metro Denver physician 



I just had one of the most amazing experiences of my life, and wanted to share 
it with my family and dearest friends: 

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 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 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 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." 

"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."

-- 
The only bug free software from MickySoft is still shrink-wrapped
in their warehouse..."