No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

The day had cooperated splendidly.  I'd made treks to the row of mailboxes to collect letters and circulars.  I deemed much of it "junk," to be trashed or shredded later. Then, I'd collected the cumbersome garbage can, faithfully placed at the curb each Tuesday afternoon before the next morning's pick-up.  

I'd already washed and dried breakfast bowls and lunch plates and was feeling pretty good about myself and my accomplishments.  

My tulips stood sentinel around the perimeter of the yard in an artistic array of pinks, yellows, and striated colors, which accounts for my spur-of-the-moment decision.  

I'd cut a bouquet and arrange them in an old but beautiful, pitcher my Daddy had made when he worked at The Chicago Pottery.  I'd already put the garbage can back in its place, so I went inside for scissors, and then back into the yard.

Why I reflexively closed and locked the patio door (without checking to make sure I had the key), I'll never, never know! Oops, but I had, I realized when I tried to get back into the house.  

I had locked myself out and I live alone! I hadn't brought my phone with me.  Unfortunately, I don't know neighbors on either side of me, across the street, or down the block!  

Wait a minute! Hold on! I do know one woman who lives three doors down! Uh-huh and Alas! She's not answering my knock. She either chose not to be home today or just isn't in the mood for company.  

What in the world am I going to do? It's mid-afternoon and the sun is beaming through a cloudless sky.  I'm getting sweaty, more likely from fear than solar rays. Hmm.

Despondent and frantic, I'd headed to the cross street when a red car turned into the alley and stopped at the first house on her left.  Shameless, I rushed over, still clutching my tulips, and introduced myself by name and relationship, to the driver.  

("Lord, You do answer prayers, spoken and unspoken, in awareness or unknowingly, like it says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17. 'Pray without ceasing').  Hmm.

Unabashed, I strode to the driver's side and introduced myself as a "neighbor," got a genuine smile in return, and then a "Hi." She listened as  I explained my predicament.

 

I'd left my phone on a table at home.  Actually, I couldn't for the life of me remember my daughter's number or Facebook name! Yes, I'd had the presence of mind to put the garage door opener in my pants pocket. But, I'd locked the garage door when I got back from the mailbox! Which is another story altogether! 

No, I had absolutely no one else I could call.

Genuinely friendly and equally concerned, Lulu the driver, obviously wanted to help.  After a moment or two, my brain fog lifted and I remembered Tracey's Facebook name (which has no kinship to her birth name) and her FB alias.  That would've been too easy! LuLu struck gold on her first try, got Tracey, and explained the situation.

Tracey didn't believe LuLu was legit! She thought Lulu might be trying to scam or punk her.  OMGoodness! I asked LuLu to take my picture sitting there at the dining room table, and forward it as proof that I was me! That worked.  Thank goodness Tracey recognized her Mama.  Hmm.

It turns out Tracey, who works from home, was smack dab in the middle of a training session and couldn't leave for another hour and a half. "Make yourself at home," Lulu graciously offered.  Although actually and legally, this wasn't LuLu's home.  Her brother and sister-in-law own it. She'd just come to visit their parents.

Lulu and I spent the most pleasant, informative, 90 or so minutes getting to know each other. A caregiver comes daily to assist the parents, whose native language is Spanish.  Lulu, her brother and sister-in-law, and the Aide are bilingual. 

It amazed me how much we share in common. Physically, LuLu's mom and my Mother's sister could've been twins!  Lulu's Mom, a "gentlewoman," moves slowly and graciously.  Lulu's father, the gentleman that he is, acknowledged me with a firm handshake and an engaging smile.

Tracey's arrival cut short a visit that might've lasted a couple more hours.  LuLu and Tracey greeted each other warmly, like old trusted friends.   We left shortly thereafter, having never said "Goodbye," just with a "See you later, so long" wave.

Scripture advises us in Hebrews 13:2 to "'show hospitality to strangers, for they may be angels from God." Lulu and I agreed that God sent her and her family as angels for me that day.   Neither of us believes in "coincidences" or "accidents," in Spirit.  

Time, place, and circumstance demanded a miracle, and I got one, a huge one!  I recall a song we used to sing every Sunday in my Orlando, Florida, church, "Praise God from Whom all blessings flow; Praise him all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts: Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost."  True dat! 

The "accidental" lockout became my miraculous "Praise God" Wednesday. Hallelujah! Amen.