September 16

I drove to the Mother Ship this morning after school drop-off like I always do. As I passed through the traffic light next to the building I noticed a small sedan slowly, haltingly making its way toward the light in the opposite direction. I watched as the driver stopped and waved a hand at the car in front of me, which continued on its way without braking. 

As I neared, the petite, elderly woman behind the wheel of that little car turned her attention to me and waved, and I rolled my window down.

"Please help me. Do you know where Big O Tires is?" she asked, her voice tight with worry.

I paused, simultaneously trying to remember where I'd seen a Big O Tires and eyeing my rearview mirror for other cars, since we were effectively blocking the road in both directions.

"I... I'm not sure," I finally stammered. 

Her eyes were pleading as she repeated "Oh, please help me."

I nodded a quick okay, then drove forward and off to the right to get out of the roadway. I pulled out my phone, Googled a map, discovered that it was a quick two-minute drive away, and jogged over to her window. As I started to give her directions, she stopped me, caught my eye, and asked, her tone desperate, if I would mind driving there so she could follow me. 

I said sure, I can do that, and she grabbed my hand and looked at me with the most earnest, grateful expression I'd seen in a long time. She asked my name, told me hers (Veronica), and said "oh, thank you. You are a gift from God."

So she did indeed follow me as I drove to Big O, very slowly --so slowly that I had to make sure I didn't lose her during the two-minute trip-- and after we pulled into the parking lot, I asked if she needed anything else. "No, I'm all right now. You are an angel from God," she said. And then I drove back to the Mother Ship for my morning coffee and chit-chat.

I don't share this story because I want anyone to think "wow, Sherry's a great person" because that's not it at all. (I actually considered NOT sharing it for that very reason.) I'm sharing it because I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to serve someone in need in such a practical way. And I'm humbled that God put her in my path because being a helper to someone who has an urgent need is a gift. So when God sends you someone to help, don't think too much -- just do it. And you'll both be blessed.