Ready for another everyday miracle? As you know, I call them grace notes. I never know if you, my BBFFs (Blessed Blog Friends Forever) really want to hear these or if I’m boring you to tears by constantly sharing them. Give me a little feedback on that, will ya?
So last week, I ran outside and jumped into Spouse’s car (he had mine at the shop) to take grandson Blaine to his tennis clinic (in his world, a super important weekly event). I had to pick him up by 4 pm in order to have him at the court on time. It was 3:55.
Got in, adjusted seat, turned key in ignition. No response.
Pumped the gas a bit (Spouse’s car is old school and, well, just plain old). Tried the key again. Nothing.
Broke out in a sweat. Kept trying to crank the ding-dang thing but worried about flooding it. No good. Crickets.
Mike next door (seventysomething and on constant O2) was watching my battle from his lawn chair in the shade. At 4:05, when I started moaning in a low wail, he wandered over with oxygen tank in tow to try and help. He couldn’t. Because the stupid thing wouldn’t turn over. No matter what we did. And boy was it hot. 90 degrees is not unusual for central Florida in April.
So I shooed Mike back inside to his air conditioner and I fled into my kitchen to regroup. It was then 4:20 pm. Blaine was going to be sooo disappointed. I felt terrible. Then the sign above my kitchen table caught my eye: Count Your Blessings. Yeesh.
At that moment, my ears tuned into the song on the radio station that was playing throughout my house. It was Toby Mac’s “Help is on the Way” and the timely lyrics registered in my brain: “I’ve seen my share of troubles, but the Lord ain’t failed me yet. I’m holding on to the promise, y’all, He’s rolling up His sleeves again.”
I went back to the driveway and laid hands on the hood of that stubborn car and prayed for an angel with grease under his fingernails.
At that moment, Blaine’s mom randomly texted to remind me that his tennis lesson was at 6 pm that day, not 4 pm as usual. I shouted HALLELUJAH!! right there in my cul-de-sac. I had more time! Surely the Lord was working on a solution to my problem.
Mike appeared at his door again, this time waving his car keys in the air and motioning for me to come take his car. Awww. So nice.
I looked down at my own car keys and suddenly realized that they weren’t my regular set of keys to Spouse’s car. They were the spare set. The set that only unlocked the doors and wouldn’t actually start the car. Whoa doggie!
I ran inside and found the real keys in the bottom of my purse and whadaya know? That cranky little car cranked right up, sweet as strawberry jelly. I hollered over to Mike what was going down. 
Mike rolled his eyes and then rolled his O2 tank back into his house.
I rolled myself into the kitchen to count my blessings.
A funky, roundabout kind of everyday miracle, I’ll admit, but still a miracle in my book. Grace notes. Evidence that Papa God is there, He’s aware, and He cares.
And sometimes angels with grease under their fingernails come with oxygen tanks.
Won’t you share your own grace notes with your community of BBFFs, my friend? We need to be encouraged by your story.
I love reading your Papa God’s blog moments….God is so good!!!! They are so detailed…I can imagine exactly the scene/people involved with every depiction of the experience that you share with your readers….I love looking forward to your blogs (BEST BLOGS FOREVER—BBF)
Awww, Julie – you totally made my day! How very encouraging it is to know you think of my blog as a BBF! Sending you a HUGE hug, sweet thang!
I love it Please keep them coming I too have a special angel with grease under their nails. Have saved the day for me more than once.
Love you much Erma
Erma, I’d love to hear your stories some time! Thanks for taking the time to write. Hugs!
Thank you for sharing, Love it. Prayer even started my lawn mower the other day. PTL
Way to go, Hazel! I’ve always believed that if prayer can move immobile mountains, it can start cranky machinery too. When I start a prayer for appliances or machinery, I ask for heaven’s mechanic department; I figure Papa God probably has all the angels with grease under their fingernails standing by to handle this area of expertise. Right now I’m laying hands on a dying tree and praying daily that God will heal it. I hope He has an arbor department up there.
Yes, please continue, Deb. This post was so real in the way you reported it, right down to it being hot in central Florida in April. How I know from our time in Gainesville! Thank you for starting my day off right, and have a blessed weekend, you and your readers.
Thanks, Tricia. Always LOVE to hear from you! Have a wonderful weekend yourself, my dear.
I always enjoy reading your blogs and your books. I feel like I am right there with you for the way you describe each detail and add a few, much-needed bits of humor. I especially liked this one because I’ve found myself in similar situations. One great thing is Papa God knows all along how to get us out of a jam, and He usually gives us enough time to figure out the error of our ways. Personally, I secretly wonder if He does that so He can enjoy a good chuckle along with us.
Many blessings,
Charlene
I love that thought, Charlene- that Papa God loves a good chuckle right alongside us. I sometimes picture Him sitting back in His gigantic celestial rocking chair with a grin on His face, nodding encouragement as He watches me fumble through some conundrum like a nonstarting car. Maybe He created us goofy like we are so life in all its seriousness has a little innate comic relief now and then. I can’t wait to the the funny parts of Heaven. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment!
I love your blogs! I agree with Julie. I can always envision the whole story. Your sense of humor is delightful and I can see God in every experience. Please keep writing and sharing!
Marsha
Hey there, Marsha! I truly appreciate your input and take MUCH encouragement that you find hearing about my multitude of grace notes helpful. The only feedback I get these days is mostly right here and I sometimes worry that my BBFFs roll their eyes when they see another Deb Coty blog post roll into their inbox. Hugs to you!
I enjoy these stories. They support my faith and my confidence. And help me to not take life here on earth too seriously.
Robin, thanks for taking the time to write! I love hearing from you. I totally agree that life, if taken too seriously, can suck the joy right out of our everyday. Hugs to you, girlfriend!