Just a Ride

When Madison was 10 months old we moved from Missouri to Germany. It was the middle of winter, freezing cold, snow on the ground and the our first experience living over seas. Our vehicle was not yet through customs and the class to get our "German" driver's license was not available readily so we could not rent a car. I was reminded that there was a shuttle bus system to take me from post to post. What was not told was how rarely they made rounds, no room for strollers and they always ran late.
The day Chad was to pick out our new apartment (we had been in temporary housing until then) he was told to head out for a training TDY. It was up to me to figure out the shuttle, get keys to THREE apartments and choose what we wanted. Sounds easy enough, but that morning it snowed. Never in my life did three inches of snow seem so invasive. I scooped up Madison, carried her with me and the diaper bag, bus schedule and map and prayed. We were cold, the buses were late, and I was a mess. I kept watching the cars drive by and no one would even look at me. As if they were avoiding the fact that I was trudging through the snow carrying my crying 10 month old trying to catch a bus. Once I made it to the housing office I was given keys to THREE apartments, two on MTV and one on PHV. The thought of having to take separate buses to get to the two locations was overwhelming, but I dug deep and headed for the bus stop. As I was waiting I just called out to God to have there be someone or something that could help make this easier. I was in Germany, alone with my 10 month old, in the snow trying to find an apartment while my husband was away training for his deployment. That very moment God answered my prayers. A young women pulled up to the bus stop and just smiled. She asked which post I was heading to and if she could give me a lift. She had a car seat for Madison since she too had a young child. This beautiful women took me into her car, talked with me and I was blessed. Through the short time God put her in my life she encouraged me, guided me in my apartment picking and I was overwhelmed at how amazing my God is!
When she dropped me off in front of the first apartment I just knew, that would be our home. As I turned to thank her and have Madison wave good-bye she was gone. She was my guardian angel that day. I ended up choosing that apartment. It was everything we needed and I was so thankful. Madison and I made it back to the housing office sooner than I thought we would and turned in the keys to the apartments and signed the papers for our apartment. Chad got in late that night and we moved in the next morning.
That day was one of the hardest and blessed days I had living over in Germany. I was so alone, scared and dreading the year deployment to come, but God took me in His arms and provided me with "just a ride" that got me through what I thought would be an impossible day.
Yesterday I was reminded of that day. It was in the negative temperatures with the wind chill, all the moms drove to pick up the kiddos from the bus stop, but one of the girls has a little sister who is three and a nanny who does not drive. They live on the far end of the complex. The bus came a few minutes early and I could see the nanny and little girl running. Tears were streaming down the girl's face. She was so cold and tired and I did what I could do. I picked them up and the older sister and drove them home. It was "just a ride" but I know how much I need "just a ride" at times. If I can do a simple something for someone to help make a rough situation a tad bit easier, I feel like I am letting HIM work through me. What I did not realize is what it did for my girls. Madison said, "Mom, giving the girls a ride was so nice and fun. That makes Jesus happy when we help others." Hannah quickly added, "Yeah, Jesus is happy was helped!" Yes, it was "just a ride" no more!