Mary Jo West’s Reflection

Crash of Blessings

As we focus our hearts on Thanksgiving, we turn our thoughts to our many blessings.

“Now we thank we all our God,
With hearts and hands and voices…”
[Martin Rinkart, Methodist Hymn]

But this story dwells on a recent even in my life where a morning of gratitude turned into a moment of despair.

I was running very late for the 6:00 a.m. start time for my job at Sky Harbor. Working the Information Desk at Terminal 4 is the perfect part-time endeavor for this part-time retiree!

Driving south on the crowded 51, I reached down for a split second to grab my lipstick. When I looked up, the cars in front of me had come to a sudden quick stop. Trying to brake did no good and I crashed into the truck in front of me. Fortunately, there happened to be an extra wide median in that exact spot on the freeway.

All of a sudden, the driver of the truck I hit came running over to my car. I was afraid of him almost as much as the damage I had done to our vehicles. But instead of yelling at me, he asked, “Are you all right?”

He was so concerned for MY well-being during the entire encounter. HE comforted ME and said everyone makes mistakes. Since my glasses were somewhere in the wrecked car, he helped me find all the necessary information on my phone to give to the DPS officer. Of course, the first thing our of my mouth was, “It was my fault.”

The man’s name whose truck I hit was Mark, and I truly feel he was an angel.

“Oh, may this bounteous God,
Through all our life be near us…”

 The miracle is that even though my car was totaled, I did not have a scratch on me. Neither did Mark. His truck only had a few slight dents.

Mark told me he had a daughter who worked at the airport and at 72, he was still working part-time. He waited with me for the tow truck to come for my Chevrolet TRAX. When Mark walked away, he suddenly turned around and said, “I love you.”

The next day at work, I tracked down his daughter and told her she had the kindest father in the world! She said that he told her that if he was ever in a wreck again, he hoped the driver was as nice as I was. Kindness matters, after all.

“With ever joyful hearts,
And blessed peace to cheer us…”

 I kept waiting for my body to ache the next day. But it never did! So many blessings came out of the crash.

My precious daughter, who is loving but not touchy with affection, hugged me harder than I have ever been hugged. My BIG boss from the corporation who owns us personally called, and friends and other family members showed great concern and gratitude that God was not finished with me yet!

I felt peace despite myriad insurance and loan forms to fill out! Plus, in just a few days, I was taking the vacation of a lifetime.

“To keep us in His grace,
And guide us when perplexed…”

 The other blessings poured out. A certain pastor helped me select my “new car” – a 2024 Subaru Impreza with only 10,000 miles! This preacher LOVES helping others choose a new ride! He is REALLY good at it!

As I write this, I am drifting down the Danube River on a Viking River Cruise planned for many months. Had the crash been more serious, I would not be here.

I wish each of you a joyous Thanksgiving, and when bad things happen, we CAN trust that good things will follow.

“Who from our mothers’ arms,
Has blessed us on our way,
With countless gifts of love,
And still is ours today…”