Saturday, August 28, 2010

Humbled at the Gas Pump

One of Jamie's sisters came home this weekend and stopped by and got all of our children and took them with her for the night (thank you Aunt CaCa!). Since we were childless for a night, Jamie and I decided to go out to eat. As soon as we got in my car to leave, we heard that all-to-familiar sound of the LOW FUEL warning. So we stopped at a gas station close to our house to fill up. I went in to pay, while Jamie took the duty of pumping.

While he was pumping, another lady pulled up on the other side of the pump. She was having trouble getting the pump to take her debit card, so she finally stuck her head around and asked Jamie why in the world it was asking her for a zip code when she just wanted to use her card? Jamie helped her get everything fixed and working, and she laughed and said "Well, I'm from Centerville and I'm not used to all of this technology." (For all my Centerville friends, she was only joking...she is a very educated lady who had just never been asked for her zip code to pump gas before.)

Jamie said, "Oh really? My wife teaches in Centerville."
"Really? What's her name?"

He tells her my name and then they begin naming different teachers that they both know- making a few connections along the way.

She makes a comment about me driving from Columbia to Centerville everyday and says its not too bad, she's been driving from Centerville to Columbia for 20+ years. So Jamie asks where she works, and they are able to make some more connections of people they both know.

It's about at this point that Jamie notices the lady's face light up...
"Did you and your wife just have a baby?" she asks.
"Yes. We had a little boy born in June."

She smiles and says, "I've been praying for you. You are on my prayer list and I have prayed for you and your family every day."

WOW.

How humbling it is to know that there are people out there who we don't even know who have been praying for us. What a wonderful experience to stop to get gas, help someone on the other side having trouble, and find out she is one of those people who have been praying.

Not only has she been praying, she also has raised children born with a disability. She has walked in our shoes. She is much farther ahead in her journey than we are in ours...and what an inspiration she was to us.

Thank you Lord for confusing this sweet lady at the gas pump so we could have the opportunity to meet her.