Jan, my sister in Michigan, was keeping a family heirloom for me in her house; a gift from my deceased spinster aunt. There was a huge question about my retrieving it since we always flew to Michigan from Texas on our visits. A couple, Tim and Beth, who happened to be visiting in Jan's home, saw the jewelry armoire and commented on its beauty. Jan explainted that it was to somehow make its way to Texas. Tim told Jan they would be passing thru Amarillo in a couple of days on their way to Phoenix and would be glad to transport the "gift." And so it happened! We drove the 90 miles from the Panhandle where we lived to meet them in the parking lot of Cracker Barrel. They came through snow, sleet and ice to deliver the ornate armoire to me, a complete stranger, at the request of my sister. We exchanged stories, chatted and our hearts knit together in just moments. We departed as friends.
Déjà vu! Fast forward several months to another Saturday that found us, sitting in the rain in a deserted parking lot at the I-30 and Cherry exit in south Ft Worth, waiting for an unidentified pickup and complete strangers to deliver my latest conquest. I had been searching for a used adult "tricycle" and had turned up enpty in my search. We were traveling to the Ft.Worth area from the Panhandle of Texas and I begged hubby to drive the pickup I could try to find one in that area and bring it home with us. After all, the pickup was HIS new toy and I think he rather enjoyed getting to drive it long distance.
I had a friend “sleuthing” one out for me in the area. He failed to turn one up but suggested I try Craig’s List on the computer. Bingo! I located one immediately in Santo, Texas. We had never heard of Santo before, but oh well—always up for a challenge. After getting the directions and arranging to drive the extra miles to retrieve my “second treasure,” I was beaming! Hubby was screaming! (Well, not really, but they rhyme!) Then, it got better; the owner of the bike came up with Plan B. Seems they were headed to Ft Worth on Saturday morning and, with the help of her son, would load up the bike and meet us for the transfer. WOW!
So, there we were, in the parking lot, when we spotted a red pickup coming up the exit ramp with MY bike!!! I was so excited. Under umbrellas we met—bonded—exchanged e-mails, a bike, money and hugs.
As we drove away from the parking lot after meeting Bobbi, I felt my spirit had “knitted” to her! I wished it wasn’t a “circumstance” meeting in a rainy parking lot. I wished she was my neighbor. A very similar “stirring” had taken place when I met Beth in the other parking lot to receive the armoire.
God places lots of neat people in our path on our journey through life. Think back, and you will recall people you met and now call friends. Some slip in and out but the best ones remain faithful, down through the years, no matter where your journey takes you. I like this verse in Proverbs 18:24, “Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family.” (The Message)
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