About a month ago, both of my parents were already at the gym and I was going to go once the girls were in bed. I got in the van and headed over, noticing that the low fuel light was still on. It had been on for a couple of days now, so I figured I'd stop at the gas station across from the gym after my workout. Well... my van had other plans. Only a minute down the road from my house, she (my van is a girl and her name is Belle) just stopped accelerating. No matter how hard I pushed on the gas pedal, she was definitely slowing down. I got her pulled over to the side of the road and she just shut down. More lights on my dash came on and it completely freaked me out. (I haven't had the best of luck with vehicles in the past... I've literally had a transmission die on me while on the highway before. That was fun.) I couldn't call my husband because he was home with the girls and they were already in bed, but luckily, my dad was at the gym with my mom that night and the gym was only five minutes away. I knew if there was one person I could call to get help, it was my daddy.
To make a long story short, I ran out of gas. We have an Accord also, and we've driven that with the fuel light on for quite a while in the past, so I thought my van would be able to do the same. (It is a Honda... and obviously all Hondas are the same!) No such luck. My dad and I had to make a few trips... one back to my house to get the gas can and one to the gas station, and we spent quite some time having to jump the battery, which died after trying to get my poor, thirsty Belle started one too many times. I couldn't stop apologizing during the whole ordeal... I felt terrible that he was missing out on a workout at the gym, that the whole thing was a result of my silliness, and did I mention that this was in January and there was snow on the ground? Of course he didn't mind, though he does still tease me about it. :)
When we finally got Belle up and running we headed back to the gym (where my poor mother had been working out on the treadmill for forty-five minutes, thinking we'd walk in ANY moment) and I hit the treadmill. My parents left, so when I was finished at the gym, I was a little nervous about the van starting okay. She started up just fine and I called my dad to tell him so. Before we hung up, I told him how grateful I was to have him close by and that I knew if I needed help all I needed to do was call my daddy.
The next morning was Sunday and during worship at church we sang "One Thing Remains". This is a newer song to me and I just simply love it, so I really got into singing it right away. About halfway through the song, while singing the words "Your love never fails, never gives up, never runs out on me", God reminded me of my debacle from the night before and how my dad came to my rescue. It was an inconvenience and was a result of my silly mistake. But my dad didn't mind... he loves me and was quick to help when I needed it. Then God gently told me that if my earthly father loves me that much, just imagine how much more my Heavenly Father does! Sin in my life is my problem and the result of my mistakes. Christ isn't responsible for any of it. But that didn't stop Him from going out of His way to help me, when sometimes I don't even know I need it. He's there, waiting for my call, and is quick to answer. My request for help doesn't annoy or burden Him... He is delighted and ready when His daughter needs Him.
Needless to say, after this mini-revelation I had a hard time finishing the song. The power of God's love is, in a word, overwhelming. It's bigger and stronger than we can ever wrap our minds around. And the best part? It's there for all of us. Right when we need it.
All you have to do is call your Daddy.
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