Inconvenient? or Invitation?

On September 17, 2014... this happened...

This morning, after I dropped the boys off at school... my husband and I decided to take our little 5 1/2 month old daughter on a bike ride to enjoy the cool morning. As we were getting the bike trailer hooked up we had a small conversation about the fact that she probably doesn’t need to have the car seat in the bike trailer anymore because she is doing so much better at holding her head up. But to err on the side of safety... let’s put her in it.

About 10 minutes later, we pulled up to an intersection. Pushed the crosswalk button and the green walking guy immediately appeared. I was a few feet behind Travis who was pulling Zoey’s bike trailer. There was a white SUV in the lane closest to us and the gentlemen was looking left and about to make a right hand turn. Since the guy was stopped and the light was green for us... Travis cautiously proceeded to cross the intersection. Then the driver took his foot off the brake and the car hit my husband. As Travis was trying to get off his bike, he simultaneously started banging on the front of the car to get his attention.  I jumped off my bike to pull the bike trailer away from the car.

Panic.

Fear.

Adrenaline.

Time stood still. Yet flashed before my eyes.

After a few short feet... the car stopped and Travis and I immediately opened up the bike trailer to get Zoey out as fast as we could. Our hands were shaking uncontrollably and cars were stopping all around. I remember smelling the car’s engine as we knelt down under the bumper to pick up our daughter.

Relief.

Joy.

Gratitude.

I started saying out loud. “God is real!” “This is a miracle!” “Thank You Jesus!” The bike trailer frame was crushed, our daughter was untouched! Paramedics, police, witnesses and strangers gathered. No one could believe it! THIS was a miracle!

Funny things happen in moments like this. You hug strangers, you cry but you don’t know why. Travis and Zoey got checked out at the hospital. Totally fine! Travis lost about 5 hairs on his ankle. But they are healthy and uninjured! The doctors and nurses were blown away! FOLKS... our GOD IS REAL!!! Angels are REAL!! Here are some pics to prove it! All glory and thanks go to GOD!!

I would be lying if I told you I wasn’t scared and overwhelmed at this event. But something happened after that day that has made us actually... dare I say it...THANKFUL... for this “accident”.

First an essential “rabbit trail”.

I believe in God, I believe in Jesus. I have a relationship with Jesus because I believe that my sin separates me from a Holy God but because Jesus died on the cross and paid the penalty for all my sin... now God calls me His Daughter.

I am His Beloved.

I am not religious. I have a relationship with God.

I’ll never be good enough. Instead ... I’ve received the free gift of forgiveness. There’s a difference.

I am spoken for! The Lord is My Father, I know He is with me wherever I go and with me regardless of what happens.

So when something happens, like this bike incident... I trust that God is faithful to His Word and that "He will never leave me nor forsake me." That "He is my ever present help in time of need" and "He works all things together for good, for those who love Him and are called according to His Purpose."

I remember frantically pulling Zoey out of the bike trailer and immediately thanking God and asking Him... WHY??!!

Instantly... I began to pray that God would use this incident (right here, right now) to bring glory to Himself and to make His Name known! I know it sounds crazy weird at the scene of what could have been a horrific accident... but if I truly believe God is Sovereign... then I can rest in the comfort of knowing that He is big enough, powerful enough, and creative enough to use unexpected events/ circumstances to introduce people to HIMSELF. He pursues us.

So I prayed for God to give me ears to hear Him, and eyes to see what He saw.

I was drawn to the driver of the car who hit us.

As we talked to him, hugged him, and made sure he was ok... we learned that he was on his way home from his friend’s memorial service.

Compassion dropped into our hearts like a bomb!

I’ve learned that when God gives compassion, He also gives capacity!

There on the side of the road, in the midst of police reports, and firemen playing with Zoey... we knew we were called to love on the driver of the car.

So we invited him over to our house a few weeks later. The sweet gentleman came to our home where our children served him a cup of cold water and made sure he knew he was welcome anytime.

We wanted him to hold Zoey and tell him that her name means LIFE! God has a purpose for her life!

We eagerly shared the gift of forgiveness that we were extending to him for hitting our bike that day. But more exciting than that... was the gift of forgiveness that God offers to all of us. The forgiveness that frees us from the eternal punishment of all our sins. The freedom that comes from receiving that forgiveness that only Jesus can offer!

I got a little over zealous and asked the kids to take the pool cover off so we could baptize him. Faith like a mustard seed. Right?!

Who can you share that gift with today?