Thursday, April 10, 2008

No Such Thing...

I don't believe in coincidence and I believe luck is only for those people who don't want to give God the credit. I do believe that every so called accident is an opportunity in disguise. I experienced one today.

While driving my carload of children home from school, I happened to see one of the young girls from our church walking with an older gentleman on the street. This young girl is a freshman in high school and the oldest of four children. Sadly, all are being raised by their father because their mother has not been in the picture for quite a few years. Whenever I see her at church I give her a hug and remind her of how smart and how beautiful she is and encourage her to stay away from the boys. When I teach the junior high and high school girls I remind her that God loves her and that He has an incredible plan for her life. On Sundays she says everything I want to hear until we speak again the following Sunday at church.

I drove past her today and saw that she had her arms around a young man and were quite a ways from the high school. I knew the direction they were headed, towards the convenience store even further down the road. When I passed her, my son and some of the other children said, "Hey isn't that Emily?" I said, "Yep it sure is." They asked me if I was going to go back to where she was walking. I hesitated for a moment and then said out loud to both my children and my friends kids in the car, "There is no such thing as coincidence is there kids? God gives us only opportunities." as my Suburban turned around and headed back.

When I got up to the couple, arm in arm, my tires crunched over the dirt and gravel, announcing my arrival. Emily saw me and seemed a bit shocked. She knew that I hadn't seen her faux-hawk hairdo before. Her arms quickly dropped from this young man's waist. I rolled down the window and yelled out, "Hi Emily! Where are you headed?" She said nervously, "To the store." I replied, "Does your dad know that you are going to the store?" She still had a deer in the headlights look when she called back accross the busy street, "No, he thinks I'm at school." "Well then, jump in the car and I will give you a ride back to school. I am sure that this nice young man doesn't want you to lie to your Dad" I told her. You could tell she had a moment of hesitation but she did what I asked and headed accross the street and into my car. This boy, a Senior in High School, in his too tight Mick Jagger jeans and even tighter concert t-shirt, rolled his eyes and mumbled something to himself under his breath. As she got into the car I told her to ask her friend if he wanted a ride back to school too. She ran out and told him that I would drive him back too, so he quickly climbed into my full car.

I gently smiled over my shoulder towards this young man and said, "So, what's your name?" He quietly said through clenched teeth, "Luke." I smiled, "Nice to meet you Luke." I went on speaking each word slowly and concisely through my smile, "Luke, you need to know something. Emily is precious to me. I am kind of like an aunt to her. If you lay a finger on her, touch her in any way or hurt her at all...(still smiling) I will hunt you down and kill you." You could have heard a pin drop. "Oh, and my husband is an attorney and former cop, he can show me how to hide your body."

I peeked in my rear view mirror only once to see Emily sitting oddly erect in her seat, eyes wider than I have ever seen them, but with a small grin on her face.

Just then we arrived at the school. I once again smiled sweetly, leaned over and waved, yelling out to Emily and her friend who were quickly exiting my car, "Nice to meet you Luke!"

I will be having a nice little chat with Emily on Sunday.





**names changed for sake of anonymity**

27 comments:

Terri said...

I think you handled that situation very well. Great how you threw in there that your husband was a cop!!
Your kids will also see the example that you set - and I bet they'll never forget it either!

Chelle' said...

I love you Joanne. I love that you did that. I love that you cared for her. I love that you "stuck up" for her. And mostly- I love that through her little grin while sitting straight in her seat... she verified her RECOGNITION of God's love for her thru you.

You are my hero today.... and always. :0)

Amy said...

Joanne,

Seriously, you rock. I believe that our children can never have too many mothers. I think this world would be such a better place if more people thought like this and were willing to stand up for other kids. Of course, parents need to be in agreement for this to work. I would hope that others would look out for my boys, and I would never be offended if they pointed out wrong doings or told me. The more eyes and ears, the better.

You did a great thing!

Tara D. said...

If I were younger, I would ask you to adopt me. :-) Way to be a mother figure figure for a girl who needs one. You go, Joanne!

A Stone Gatherer said...

Oh I am so proud of you and want to be like you when I grow up! You go girl! Way to answer the God given appointment!

Mrs.Naz@BecomingMe said...

That is a great post. I loved how you handled it.

Anonymous said...

Hee hee hee! I wish more adults could be as intrusive, nosy and caring as you are.

Cheri said...

Oh you did such a great job! I'm sure that boy nor Emily will ever forget today.
I bet Emily deep down is feeling very special to have you looking out for her!

TeriAnnElizabeth said...

I love your writing. I love the way you just hook the reader in right away.

I also love what you did and what you said!! You sound like me! I thought that was something I had to surpress as a Christian now, but I can use it for good :-)

I totally love how you love GOD. You are something else in a very good way Miss Joanne.

May GOD keep blessing you with opportunities,
Teri

connorcolesmom said...

YOu are SO right!
There is No such thing as coincidence. GOd placed you right there so you could minister to Emily and to Luke. There is no telling what you saved her from.
I look forward to the update after you talk with her on Sunday :)
Much love
Kim

Aly said...

Other than the love from our Father above, a Mom's/Aunt's love is, hands-down, the best!

Absolutely, you are my hero today, too! And, I'm certain, "Emily's" as witnessed by her ever-so-slight grin.

Beautiful real-life story.

Mari said...

Oh Joanne - I am so proud of you! Not only did God lead you to that spot - he gave you the words to say and the smile on your face. You were a great example to you kids too!

George said...

I'm going to start calling you George William from now on.

sharon brobst said...

What a way to rise up and fight for (and protect) her. You are a spiritual mother in her life! What a blessing she has in you.

May you continue to mother those God has placed in your life who need a mother!

Unknown said...

MAN! I am glad that I am not Luke!
What a riot!!!
Way to go!
If you ever see MY daughter walking down the road with a guy....feel free to do the same thing!!!

Hugs!!

Rmomof3 said...

Absolutely precious JoAnne! Wouldn't it be nice to know that every girl had an "aunt" like you!

Rebekah said...

You go Girl! (giving you two snaps up)

ElizabethMThompson said...

Wow Joanne! Emily will never forget your intrusion into her business. And one day she may even thank you!

I wish more adults recognized their value in the life of other people's children. Believers need each other!

elizabeth embracing life said...

joanne, you are an angel. I cried reading this post. I was one of those kids at church that was loved on by my Sunday school teacher. I was prayed over and this so touched my heart. My journey with Christ began with the love and care of someone who listened to what God called them to say and do in the moment. You have blessed me today and reminded me of Alice Warren, the Sunday school teacher who brought me to Jesus.

Kim@Seasons of My Heart said...

This is PRICELESS!!! What a testimony...of listening...really listening to that still...small voice inside.

God will BLESS you for your FAithfulness to Emily!!!

Way to go Joanne!!!

Kim~

Susan @ Blessed Assurances said...

Good for you! I bet this is a lesson neither one will soon forget.

Zaankali said...

I love it! You rock! I wish more parents would be so bold. I heard a while back that it used to be if an adult and a teen were walking towards each other on a side walk the teenager would switch to the other side of the road being scared of the adult and now a days it is the other way around. Apparently this doesn't apply to you and I am with you and I think kids respect that a lot.
Smiles!

Jess said...

After reading this post, I kept thinking of you today, after I'd read:
"The greatest good we can do for others is not to share our riches with them, but to reveal theirs to them."
That's exactly what you were doing. Revealing all her worth to her. God bless you for caring so deeply. It won't go unappreciated.

AlaneM said...

Joanne, what a beautiful thing you did for this young lady. I wish I had someone like you in my life when I was young.
I pray that if I am faced with a similar situation I would do the same.
Thanks for the inspiration!

And I think your statement to 'luke' was right on & priceless...would have loved to see his face :)

Amber said...

I came over from Ginger's blog...
This story cracked me up!
Good for u!

Fran said...

Her life is forever changed bc of this Joanne!! That was awesome!
I may have to use that line one day....except my hubs is no attorney or former cop. Hmmmmm....

Anonymous said...

you are a fast thinker!!! I'm not so sure I would have been so on top of things...I'm one of those who thinks long after the time has come while in bed "I should have done or said that!!!"...

good job!!!

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