The Quarter Inch Screw

"Bendice a quienes entran y salen de este lugar para que regresen sanos y salvos."

(Bless all those who come and go from this place and bring them back safe.) I have these words in a frame hanging on my living room wall that remind me of Psalm 121:8 "The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore."

Yesterday, God kept that promise even though I didn't recognize it at first.

Beginning my day with the Lord, and with a prayer on my lips, I grabbed my little dog, Grace, and we drove 18 miles South for her grooming appointment.  I mentioned to Grace's groomer that I would be headed to town, (which is about 47 miles one way from where I was standing) to run a few errands, and that I would be back to pick Grace up on time, return her home, and then head back to town to finish my errands.  Grace's groomer graciously told me to take my time, finish all my necessary errands to save an additional trip to town, and that she would keep Grace with her.  "No worries."  She added.  So, I thanked her and went on my way.  Getting out of my car at my first stop, I glanced at my front driver's side tire and noticed a shiny object protruding from the rubber.  Upon a closer look, I realized that a screw was embedded in the tire.  I knew right then that my meticulously planned day just flew out the window.  Crumpling up the paper of my well-planned-list, I drove over to our dealership and explained my dilemma.  Upon first glance, this dilemma only appeared to be a glitch: a 15-minute patch at the most and I could be on my way, salvaging my plans after all.  But as the minutes changed to an hour, and then the glitch turning into a purchasing a brand-new tire, I finally admitted to myself that this would be the last errand (unplanned!) I would be doing in town.  An hour and a half later, and a lighter purse, I drove back to our little Southern Community to pick up my dog from the groomer.

As I continued to drive home, the disappointment of my unmet expectations for the day turned into a prayer of thankfulness.  I realized that God had kept His promise to me.  He had kept me safe.  As I processed all of the 'could-have's,' I apologized to my Lord and thanked Him for keeping me safe.  You see, I could have had a flat tire on the Interstate.  I could have had a blow out on the back County Roads.  I could have lost control of my vehicle on the Interstate driving 75 MPH.  I could have had a flat tire at a red light in the busiest intersection in town.  But none of that happened.  God safely got me into town.  He guided my eyes to see the screw in my tire at my very first stop. He allowed me to drive safely to the dealership for a new tire.  God provided the means to purchase the surprise expense.  God kept me safe, just as He promised He would.

Thank you, God.

Yes, the quarter inch screw threw a monkey wrench into my plans...

   But God reminded me of a precious promise...

        He will keep me safe.

            But that's just me!