Posted in Life Lessons

It can be very scary when we find ourselves off the road that we are supposed to take.  But,  it is comforting to know that if we do stray off the road, God is there to take care of us.

Today I passed by this old barn I had taken pictures of back in the Winter when it snowed.  I could not pass up the opportunity to take pictures of it now, with all the beautiful trees in bloom, so I stopped.

After taking pictures of the front of the barn, I decided to drive up the little dead end hollar (yes, we call them hollars here in E. TN) to take pictures of the side & back of the barn.  Now back in the winter, I didn't drive all the way up in the hollar because the road was covered with snow, and I wasn't sure what to expect at the end, so I backed out.  Today I decided to drive up in there and turn around.

It was beautiful.  The side of the road was covered with honeysuckle, and it smelled lovely.  As I drove, I came to a fork in the road.  I had to make a choice, either turn around here or continue down a narrow gravel road.   Now, if anyone has ever been in a hollar before, one knows NOT to choose the later because you just might find yourself looking down the barrel of a shotgun!  So, being the smart, ever so wise person that I am, I decided to turn around there.

I pulled into the driveway and proceeded to back up...OOPS... what was that?  I backed up a little too far.  I was in the ditch.  No problem.  I put the car in drive and pressed the accelaterator.  I wasn't going anywhere, only spinning tires.  I decided to try again.  Nothing.

I put the van in park & got out to assess the problem.  The back driverside tire was down in the ditch and the bottom of the van was on the concrete because of the way the road dropped off.  UGH!  This was not good.

Again, I thought, no problem.  I have my cell phone.  I reached in the van and grabbed my phone... no service.  NO SERVICE!!!  You've got to be kidding me!  What was I going to do?  I was stuck with three kids...all alone in this hollar.  Tracy and a friend went to the movies and noone knew where I was.  I'll admit it, I was mighty scared.  So I sat there thinking & praying.  What was I going to do?

There was a house right there.  But dare I approach it?  (Remember the aforementioned possibility of looking down the barrel of a shot gun?)  If I do go to the house and ask for help, do I take the kids?  or do I lock them in the van?  So, I prayed..."Dear Lord, please, please, please let there be a little old lady living in that house." 

I decided to lock the kids in the van, and go to the house for help.   I told the kids to sit right there.  As I walked up the driveway I was shaking something fierce. I didn't know what I would find.   I didn't see a car in the driveway.  Oh, no.  I went up on the porch and saw a TV on inside.  Oh, good.  Someone is home.  Again, I prayed... "Please Lord, let a nice little old lady live here." 

I knocked on the door.  Noone came.  I knocked again.  Finally, a little old lady came shuffling to the door.  "THANK YOU GOD!  OH, THANK YOU!!!"

I explained to her what had happened, and she let me use her phone.  I called my mother-in-law and told her what happened.  She said she and my father-in-law would be there as soon as they could.  They came, and my FIL pulled me out of the ditch with his big 'ole Chevy truck.   (Praise God for FILs with big 'ole Chevy trucks!!!) 

I learned two important lessons that day:
1:  DO NOT for ANY REASON, go back in a hollar by yourself.
2:  Even when I make the wrong choices in life, God is there waiting to help me.  All I need to do is call on Him.

In life we are constantly faced with decisions.  We must decide what path to take.   If we put our trust in God,  He is faithful, even when we make the wrong choice.  He provides a way to make our paths straight.  Thank you, Lord!

Amy Beth