CINDY CHRISTESON -- The Moral of the Story

“For those who believe in God, no explanation is needed; for those who

do not believe in God, no explanation is possible.”

-- Father John Lafarge

I’ve heard amazing stories about people who were in tough situations

when someone appeared out of nowhere to help. Sometimes the people

disappeared as quickly as they appeared, and many have wondered if they

were angels.

Similar instances have happened close to home, and I thank God for

sending the needed help.

A friend of my daughter recently told us what happened when her tires

exploded while she was driving. She pulled to the side of the freeway and

called the auto club. A car pulled over, and a man walked up to her

window. His appearance made her nervous, and she only rolled the window

down an inch.

“Don’t worry miss, I just want you to know that I’m going to stay

parked behind you until your help comes,” he said.

When the tow truck appeared, the man drove away.

Another time, my friend’s son was mountain biking with two friends.

They were almost five miles up the trail when Robert crashed and severely

injured his right leg. One friend rode down to call the paramedics, while

the other stayed.

The temperature was dropping, and the two knew they needed to somehow

get down the mountain. Robert propped his bad leg up and used his left to

propel himself.

There was a long uphill section, so Robert’s friend jumped off his

bike and pushed him for almost a mile. At the top of the hill, they

encountered two other riders.

Robert’s friend ran back to his bike, while the two mystery riders

helped Robert down in the dark to the waiting paramedics.

The most recent experience of God’s providence happened when one of

our daughters was driving home from Northern California. She had car

problems before the Grapevine and pulled into a gas station to call us.

A young man asked if he could help. He said he did road construction

with his father and friend, and they would check her car. She felt very

comfortable talking to them and called us from their cell phone to

discuss the situation.

When she finished talking, she forgot to turn off the phone, so Jon

and I heard one of the men say, “What we’re going to do right now is to

pray and put this in God’s hands.”

He then told her they would follow her up the Grapevine and reassured

her by saying, “If you have any problems, just pull over and so will we.

You’ll be fine.”

She only drove four miles when the problems returned, and she pulled

over. Sure enough, a great big construction truck with flashing lights

pulled right behind her.

After more calls, she rode most of the way home in a large

construction truck. One of the men reminded her that God never leaves His

children alone.

Were these special people angels? Perhaps.

They could also be people whom God put in the right place at the right

time. I imagine that God has used some of you in surprising ways to help

others too.

In any case, to those who have helped, and to God who sent you, I give

my deepest thanks and appreciation.

And you can quote me on that.

* CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON is a Newport Beach resident who speaks

frequently to parenting groups. She may be reached via e-mail at o7

cindy@onthegrow.comf7 or through the mail at P.O. Box 6140-No. 505,

Newport Beach, CA 92658.