CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON -- The Moral of the Story

“It is one of the beautiful compensations of this life that no one can

sincerely try to help another without helping himself.”

-- Charles Dudley Warner

Last week I wrote about two girls my husband Jon and I met at a hotel

in Fresno. I sensed God nudging me to talk to them, and after initial

reservations I did. We ended up having breakfast together.

Over the minutes and mouthfuls, we learned they had recently graduated

from college and were biking from Arizona to the California coast, then

down to San Diego. Fortunately, Jon has ridden the route and gave them

helpful suggestions. Jon wrote our phone number on a napkin if they

needed anything when they were in our area.

I figured the napkin probably ended up in the trash, and I’d never

hear from them. At least I’d had fun talking to them, and Jon helped

them.

I prayed for them whenever I passed cyclists. The next weekend, I

stayed home from a daylong bike ride to finish some work. I kept picking

up my car keys to run errands but felt I wasn’t supposed to leave. That

afternoon, the phone rang and a sweet voice asked, “Is this Cindy?”

I said yes.

“Hi, I don’t know if you remember me, but I’m Shannon, one of the

girls you met in Fresno,” she said.

“I’m so glad you called, I’ve been praying for you,” I answered. “How

are you, and where are you?”

“We’re in Los Angeles, and we decided that L.A. drivers don’t like

cyclists very much,” she answered. “We think we’ll take the train to

Santa Ana and wondered if you could give us directions back to the

coast.”

I told her to take the train to Irvine, where I would meet them and

then asked, “How would you like dinner, a hot shower and a place to

stay?”

Shannon didn’t hesitate. “Wow, that would be awesome.”

They looked tired but had big smiles and gave me big hugs when I met

them. We talked the whole way home. It felt like an evening with our

daughters.

They took showers, did laundry and sent e-mails. They helped make a

big dinner, which they consumed with gusto. We talked about faith and

friends, as well as about boys and bikes. Afterward, Jon showed Shannon

maps while Sarah played the piano.

The next morning, they ate a bicyclist’s breakfast while Jon worked on

their bikes. I rode my bike with them to Laguna.

“This was such an incredible surprise. Thank you for being our

temporary mom and dad. It’s hard to always be in charge,” Shannon said.

“You’ve really blessed us,” Sarah added.

We hugged and went our ways. I’ve heard from them several times. My

favorite was a note from Sarah that said, “Thank you so much, not just

for taking us in but for being a vessel of God. I’ve talked to Shannon

about God’s love, but you showed it. I believe that is the reason we ran

into you both in Fresno. God does work in mighty and mysterious ways.”

I’m glad God nudged me to open up my home to them. Hopefully Shannon

will feel a nudge from God to open her heart to Him.

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.