It was Christmas week in Cleland, England, and Sharon Stead and her family had
been visiting relatives. "Since our three sons were little--ages seven, five and
five months--we had planned to leave for home much earlier," Sharon recalls. But
time had passed too quickly, and now they were facing a long drive on a
single-lane road through miles of open country, no houses, no services or
restaurants. Nor did the Steads own a cell phone. They had made this trip many
times, but never this close to evening. Sharon was nervous, but she put on a
smile as the families waved goodbye to one another. All too soon, darkness began
to fall.
Snuggled up in warm fleecy blankets in the back seat, the boys went to asleep.
But the road got darker, the terrain even more desolate, and then. "Oh no,"
Sharon's husband, Dave, murmured about an hour into the journey. "Is that fog?"
It was. Dense, thick, it floated over then and soon they could barely see more
than a few yards ahead. "As Dave braked, we both noticed the oil warning light
flashing on and off on the dashboard," Sharon says. "Then the engine began to
sputter." The car seemed to lose power, chugging and bouncing along. The couple
exchanged worried looks. There were no other cars in view, no sign of life
anywhere. What if they stalled? How could they protect the children, or find
help?
There was nothing else to do but to pray. "God, please get us home safely,"
Sharon began. "Get the car home before it breaks down completely." Dave echoed
her plea. Over and over the couple prayed, as they watched the oil light flash
on and off. The car continued to balk, slowing to about fifteen miles an hour.
If they stopped, they might never start again. Baby Lewis awakened and began to
fuss. Somehow, Sharon got him into the front seat and gave him his bottle. "I
was afraid to stop praying, almost afraid to take my eyes off the dashboard
light," she says. No cars appeared anywhere around them. Mile by mile, Dave
continued to drive.
At last! Suddenly they saw lights ahead--it was a "roundabout," or oasis, with a
gas station right beside it. Gratefully they pulled in, just as the engine
sputtered to a stop. They had made it! Or, at least, they were not alone
anymore. For a lone attendant came toward them, smiling in welcome.
However, the news was not good. There were no mechanics on duty, nor was the
oasis restaurant open. "The holidays, you know," the attendant pointed out. "It
might take hours to find a mechanic. I can replace the oil you've lost, but I
don't know if that will get you home."
Dave didn't either. But there was no motel available, his family was cold and
frightened, and he had to try. He and the mechanic replaced the oil, Dave got
back in the car and the engine started. Shakily they pulled out onto the lonely
road. "Are we going to make it?" Sharon asked anxiously.
"Keep praying," Dave answered.
Somehow they kept moving. Even when they came upon a stoplight, it was green and
they were able to coast through it without using the brake. Finally they reached
the outskirts of their town, and at 2:30 am, they turned into their own
driveway. It had taken them seven hours to cover a journey that usually took
about four, but they were safe. Sharon and Dave prayed a loud "thank you!" Just
as the car's engine died.
"We truly believed that God had sent us the help we needed, and we were very
grateful," Sharon says. But they did not realize how blessed they actually were
until the next time they drove the same road back to their relatives' home in
Cleveland. For they passed no roundabout or gas station on that journey. Nor
have they ever seen such a place during the many years they have since driven
the route. "We often tell the story of how God sent us an gas station angel,"
Sharon says, "and a certain brand of blessed oil to bring us safely home."
Copyrighted by Joan Wester Anderson angelwak@earthlink.net used with permission.
Originally appeared on the Where Angels Walk website,
http://joanwanderson.com
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
messages. HTML and plain text versions available.
The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.