"Grateful" found in a flat tire

Ever have one of these days?

I was on my way to Whitewater for a meeting, following a very busy day at work. I was exhausted but just beginning to get a "second wind" - with my Mt.Dew on the seat next to me, I had just picked up a friend that would make this journey with me and...

THUMPTHUMPTHUMPTHUMP....the sound of a flat tire. (Did I mention that it's dark, freezing, I left my gloves in my locker at work and my friend is very pregnant?)

Just then I think, "I'll call AAA." This is a service I have had for years, (thanks, Dad!) and only used maybe once. You guessed it, they can't help. They tell me my membership has expired (which isn't actually the case but wasn't cleared up until after the little adventure) and want to charge me a lot of money to come to my aid. So, my friend Lori rises to the occassion, finds the manual for how to change the tire and begins to talk me through the first step.

1. "Remove the jack from the trunk" - which is no small challenge in itself. This took 20-30 minutes.
2. Answer cell phone, and try to make the AAA gal on the other end of the line feel better about the disappointing service received.
3. Welcome Tim, the off duty officer from Albany, who stops to offer help.
4. Hold the flashlight for Tim and pretend you are not freezing.

An hour or so later, Lori and I were back in the car with one cute little tire discussing what lesson we can learn from this experience. To be quite honest we didn't come up with anything real solid. Tim was a believer in Jesus (I know because he had a fish on his phone - and he told us so). He had prayed for an opportunity to serve - so, maybe this was his challenge. We both agreed that we handle such things better when among friends, maybe a lesson on community? I learned that I my dad was right when he said I should know how to change a tire - and then kept my AAA service going for years. I appreciate my dad.

Mostly it was an adventure had, just as the many "flat tires" of life. Another moment that is just part of life, a little piece making up the big picture. A story for those involved to share - and blog about. And for this I am grateful.

Thanks...to Tim from Albany who stopped to help change a tire when he could have gone home to feed his dog leftovers from lunch.
Thanks...to Lori for making the whole horrible thing fun. (I'm glad that along with other interesting finds, there were gloves in the trunk.)
Thanks...to my boys for praying for me when I was out on the road.
Thanks...to Jesus for sending help when AAA wouldn't.
Thanks... gals for greeting us warmly when we showed up 2 1/2 hours late.
Thanks...Gene for waiting up until midnight, cell phone on, for me to be home safe.

I have much to be thankful for I guess. and there it is.