March 17, 2005 Psalm 55

 March 17, 2005                                              Psalm 55

 

Psalm 55:12-13, 22 “It is not enemies who taunt me-- I could bear that; it is not adversaries who deal insolently with me-- I could hide from them. But it is you, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend… Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved”

 

(Editor’s note: This piece came via email to one of our members.  While the author is unknown, it has a great lesson for us all and so is included in our devotionals.)

 

“This was written by a Hospice of Metro Denver physician.... “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, cursing, into a gas station, glad that I would not be blocking traffic and would have a warm spot to wait for the tow truck. 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 as if she had been overcome by sobs; she was young and looked really haggard with dark circles under her eyes. She dropped something and I picked it up to give it to her. It was a nickel.  At that moment, everything came into focus: 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 if she was okay 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 wasn’t crazy and said, "He heard you, and sent me."

I took out my card and swiped it on the pump so she could fill up her car completely, and while it was fueling I walked to the McDonald's next door 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, and we stood by the pump eating fries and talking. 

She told me her name, and that her boyfriend left 2 months ago and she couldn’t make ends meet. She knew she wouldn't have money to pay rent and finally in desperation called her parents in California.   She packed up everything she owned in the car and 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. As I was walking over to my car, she said, "So, are you like an angel or something?" This 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 and 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.”

 

Father, bless your children. Show them a new revelation of your love and power. 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.