I was sitting in the garage waiting room when the manager asked me to step into another room. Bad news was not what I expected to hear. But she hit me with an accident report. A worker had crashed my car when moving it into a service bay. The rear end was smashed in. The car was not drivable, not now, not ever! Written off. Junkyard inventory.
My mind started spinning as I contemplated the ramifications. Repairs on the 18-year old Mazda wagon would cost more than it’s worth. We had sold Robert’s van a few months earlier so now we were without wheels. Modifying a rental vehicle was difficult. Locating and modifying a replacement vehicle was time consuming and costly.
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These thoughts spun in my head as I observed the distress of the worker who had slammed his foot on my left foot accelerator instead of the brake. He was mortified. The manager was effusive with apologies and assurances that the garage would fully compensate me for the loss. And the garage faithfully followed through with funds for both the car’s value and cost of rides in the interim. But how could they compensate for the loss of time, independence, spontaneity, and plans that had to be cancelled?
I clung to the knowledge that God is in control and allowed this to happen. And it occurred to me that this was God’s way of expediting our long term plan of replacing my car with a wheelchair accessible van (WAV)! We had known for some time that Robert’s difficulty getting in and out of my car meant a WAV was in our near future. The accident made it clear the future had arrived.
Even so, I was disheartened and discouraged. Our plans for driving to the Little People of America Florida weekend meeting in Sarasota were scrubbed. The opportunity for making in person book sales was lost. COVID had made in person marketing inadvisable and now this!
The words of the psalmist struck a chord with me.
“Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!” Psalm 43:5, New Living Translation (NLT)
And God reminded me that He is a worthy source for my hope and praise! He activated our church and biological families to encourage us by meeting our transportation needs. They acted in accordance with New Testament instructions:
“And we urge you, brothers and sisters, . . . encourage the disheartened, . . .” 1 Thessalonians 5:14, New International Version (NIV)
“But God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus.” 2 Corinthians 7:6 (NLT)
This #NationalDayofEncouragement, I reflect on our 18 weeks without wheels. Our 21 member driver team transported us to 58 destinations primarily for church activities, medical, and vehicle shopping. We also had personal couriers pick up prescriptions and mailed packages.
We are encouraged beyond what words can express! We salute you all.
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5 replies on “Acts of Encouragement”
Wonderful!
Been a rough ride over the last couple of years!!! So glad you have support from so many people. Wish we could be there to help xxxx
I had not read or heard that story before but it was a great reminder that the Lord is in control even when it doesn’t look like it. What an opportunity for so many to be able to be a blessing.
So glad you got lots of support, Angela, we think of you, you know.
Great reminder that God is in control of all incidents, no experience is wasted; HE uses it all. Oh! if I could remember that for each moment of every day!
I enjoy the humor in your writing…. “The accident made it clear the future had arrived.” Happy driving Angela!