Yesterday afternoon, I decided to run to get a few last minute ingredients I needed for our community group potluck that evening. It's funny how some days before something happens, a thought crosses one's mind that "something is going to happen out of the norm". This incident was one of those times. I took my shopping buddy, our 4-year old Josiah who is always down to do errands with mama and left David with our 2 youngest. We drove off and got to the Kroger's parking lot and for some reason, I kept driving around, looking for that perfect spot, almost for-seeing that I would need a specific parking space for what was to come. I finally parked facing an outlet rather than facing in with a car ahead of me. We hurried out quickly and purchased the items I needed, checked out and headed back to our car. We got buckled up, I put the key into the ignition, turned the key and nothing....the car wasn't starting. I tried a couple more times and then everything clicked..why the car automatic windows seemed a little droggy as I tried to put them down on my way, why the electronics sounded jumbled and extra slow--the car had been trying to tell me it's battery was very low. Immediately I knew it had to be the battery and just hoped it wasn't anything else. Fortunately, a large truck right next to me was about to leave and I asked the man if he wouldn't mind giving me a jump-start. He was very nice but didn't have much time, he agreed to help me out but after only about 3-minutes of charging, my car was not starting--it needed more time but time he did not have.
Long story short, I had been trying to reach my husband however he had music playing on his phone for our babygirl who he had put in the bedroom to nap so with 2% charge left on my cell phone battery, I was able to reach my neighbor who walked over to give David the news that I was stranded and needed him to pick us up. I almost left my phone home charging while I went out but went back into the house where it was charging to retrieve it, just in case I needed it and that I did.
Now this is a Sunday afternoon and perhaps the best time for a car issue to occur as David doesn't work Sundays or Mondays. As I stood outside of the car waiting for David to arrive, with the August sun and heat beaming upon me, I begin to feel gratitude. Gratitude that it was only the battery-an easy fix, gratitude that I got stranded in a busy parking lot of a grocery store open 24 hours a day, gratitude that I wasn't in a rush which would have tested my patience even more and gratitude that of all times, I was stranded at the best possible time in the best possible place and not far from home.
I remember the past car troubles we had including the jeep overheating and recall that it too happened on a Sunday morning. I had both kids in the car with me on that cold January and I was pregnant but it was daylight and I pulled over just blocks away from our new house which we had been working on before moving in. We have 2 used cars so maintenance issues occur at least 3 times a year for us but as I reflect now upon the many car troubles that have occurred, they all seemed to present themselves just at the right place and giving us the most time to take care of with least headache.
David picked us up yesterday and since we didn't need the car and it was going to be in a safe place, we decided to keep it there, go to our community group meeting and take care of it today. So, this monday morning, I drove David to pick up a new battery and he was able to replace it easily himself. We did not have to miss a meeting or appointment, he didn't have to be late or absent from work, we didn't have to change plans other than having 45 minutes of extra rest.
Despite our car troubles yesterday, God's grace was ever present reminding me and us that in the midst of trouble, His grace is sufficient.
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