AN UNUSUAL MORNING

by Beverly Catchings

I got up early this morning at 4:40am to put the finishing touches on my son's reading fair project and to give myself time to set up the project and still get to work by 7:30. I woke the boys up earlier than usual so that they too could be ready. My youngest, who was excited, got up and immediately got dressed. My oldest on the other hand took his time.

When I finished ironing and went to take my bath, I saw him walking out of the house with no shirt on. He proceeds to ask me if I knew what time it was. I asked him to focus on getting himself ready because I was getting ready too. I also asked him to get the table out of the storage room for the display since he was walking out the door; he responded by lifting the trash that he was putting out as if to say, "I can't my hands are full".

Once I got dressed, while preparing to leave the house I realized that he was not ready, nor had he gotten the table out of the storage. At that very moment, though angry and disappointed, I made an active decision not to engage him. I made one comment..."all I ask for Lord is a little help". Then I proceeded to load the car. Got the table out of the storage and instructed the youngest to make sure he had all of his things.

It took me 5 trips to the car to get everything loaded. I then jumped in the car, look both ways, and nothing was coming, and pulled out of the drive. When I looked to my left, I noticed the butt of my neighbor's car in the passenger side window. She'd backed out of her drive at the same time as I and we'd collided. We both got out of the car to assess the damage. There was no physical damage that I could see. I thanked God, and then we bid each other a good day and pulled off.

When I got to my son's school, we unloaded the project. Again, multiple trips were made running back and forth to unload and set up. By now my time had dwindled and I still wanted to make it to work on time. As I was running to the car I noticed where she'd hit me. I had looked at the back bumper for damage and didn't see any, but in actuality she'd hit me on the front passenger door. I didn't have time to check it out. I jumped in my car and asked God to please get me to work on time without getting a ticket. You see by now I only had 8 minutes to get from my son's school to my job. Yes, I was speeding but I made it to work at exactly 7:30. Again, I thanked Jesus.

I almost dropped my head but then I saw a co-worker while walking in the building who'd given me some words of encouragement earlier in the week. His words, scripture read from Romans 12, and a quote by Helen Keller posted on My Daily Insights immediately came to mind. At that moment I decided I would be my usual self; extending my smile and bidding others a good morning.

After all, no one else needed to be affected by my misfortunes; and sympathy from others wouldn't change a thing in this situation. My positive actions were reciprocated in the students and staff as they passed my post. Their smiles automatically made me feel better.

After morning duty, I'd calmed down and relaxed. I gathered myself and proceeded to walk out to assess the damage to my car. Another co-worker walking in the hall asked how I was, I didn't want to lie, so I told him what had happened. He walked out to my car with me for moral support.

At first glance where the red paint from her car cover mine, it looked as if the door was bent. The same towel that I'd used to wipe off the table used for the reading fair was used to wipe off the paint from her car. Underneath the paint was no dent! I began repeatedly thanking Jesus. I even shouted. I look at my co-worker and assured him that I wasn't crazy...just very thankful...and not ashamed to show it.

Looking back, I realized that God had answered my original prayer and extended his hand from Heaven and provided me "a little help".

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Beverly Catchings is a licensed Social Worker who serves as the case manager for a mental health-screening program. She is a single mother of three (2 college students and a 10 year old). As an MDI subscriber she loves our daily words of encouragement. She can be contacted at bevaaad at hotmail.com .