This story was supplied by a Metro Denver Hospice Physician

I was driving home from a meeting this evening about five, stuck in traffic on Colorado Blvd. My car started to choke and splutter then died. I barely managed to coast, into a nearby gas station and was happy I would not be blocking traffic and have a somewhat warm spot to wait for a tow truck. The car wouldn't even turn over.

Before I could make the call, I saw a woman walking out of the Quickie Mart building. She slipped on some ice and fell into a gas pump, so I got out to see if she was okay

When I got there, it was apparent that she had been overcome by sobs more than the hurt or shock of her fall. She was a young woman who looked really haggard with dark circles under her eyes. She dropped something as I helped her up, and I picked it up to give it to her. It was a nickel.

At that moment, everything came into focus for me: the crying woman, the ancient Suburban crammed full of stuff with three kids in the back (one in a car seat), and the gas pump reading $4.95.

I asked her if she was okay and if she needed help, and she just kept saying,' I don't want my kids to see me crying!

So we stood on the other side of the pump from her car. She said she was driving to California and that her circumstances were very hard for her right now. So I asked,' And you were praying?'

That made her back away from me a little, but I assured her I was not a crazy person and said, 'He heard you, and He sent me.'

I took out my card and swiped it through the card reader on the pump so she could fill up her car completely. While it was fueling, I walked to the nearby McDonald's. I bought two big bags of food plus some gift certificates for more, and a big cup of hot chocolate.

She gave the food to the kids in the car, who eagerly ate it like wolves. We stood by the pump eating fries and talking a little.

She told me her name, and that she lived in Kansas City. Her boyfriend left two months ago and she had not been able to make ends meet. She knew she wouldn't have money to pay rent Jan.1, and finally, in desperation, had called her parents, with whom she had not spoken in about five years. They lived in California and said she could come live with them and try to get on her feet there.

So she packed up everything she owned in the car. She told the kids they were going to California for Christmas, but not that they were going to live there. I gave her my gloves, a little hug and said a quick prayer with her for safety on the road.

As I was walking over to my car, she said,' So, are you like an angel or something?'

This definitely made my eyes tear up.

I said, 'Sweetie, at this time of year angels are really busy, so sometimes God uses regular people.'

It was so incredible to be part of someone's miracle. And of course, you guessed it, when I got in my car it started right away and got me home with no problem. I'll put it in the shop tomorrow to check, but I suspect the mechanic won't find anything wrong.

Sometimes the angels will come [close enough to you that you can feel their presence]. . .

Psalms 55:22 'Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee. He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.'

Tags: Service Charity Kindness RuntoTomorrow

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