In Good Hands!
In Good Hands!
Al
and I are official “Snowbirds” now, after fleeing the frigid Michigan weather
for a week-long cruise in the Bahamas. When we left at 4:30 a.m. on Saturday,
March 1st it was 28 degrees F outside. We bravely took off our
winter coats and left them behind in the car at airport parking, along with our
gloves and hats.
Thankfully,
we didn’t have to wait for the shuttle taking us to the airport. It picked us
up promptly, and once inside we were able to stay warm.
On
previous trips, nearly everything at the airport was shut down early in the
morning; however not that day. At 5:00 a.m. there were already long lines of
people waiting to check their luggage and go through security at the terminal.
Would
our window of time before departure be enough, we wondered? Because the
deadline for boarding the cruise ship at the port in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
was 1:00 p.m., it was important to catch the 7:00 a.m. flight from the DTW
airport.
Since
Al had prearranged for wheelchair assistance, we were able to avoid the long
lines and proceeded to the gate without delay.
We thought there was enough time to stop and order food to eat on the
airplane, but didn’t realize that it would cost precious minutes. When we
reached the gate, boarding had already commenced. It was with a big sigh of
relief and a “Thank You!” to the Lord when we finally took our seats on the
plane.
The
flight was smooth and once in Fort Lauderdale, a person with a wheelchair took
us to the baggage area. Representatives from the cruise line were there waiting
for arrivals. After checking in, we were told to sit down until it was time to
board the bus for the cruise ship.
“You don’t have to do anything,” instructed one
man. “You are on a cruise ma’am. We do it all for you!”
The airport at Fort Lauderdale was only about
a ten-minute drive to the ship, and there was still an hour to go before the one
o’clock deadline. It felt good to relax, knowing that we were in good hands.
However,
there was heavy traffic on the freeway—stop and go the whole way. Just as the
bus reached the security checkpoint at the
entrance to the port, the engine shut down, blocking one vital lane completely!
The vehicles behind the bus began passing on either side whenever there was an
opening, with horns blowing.
After
several futile tries, the driver contacted his company and arranged for another
bus to pick us up, as well as for a tow truck. The passengers were quiet,
especially as the boarding time was approaching.
“Would
we make it?” Al and I wondered for the second time that day. But before the
arrival of the tow truck, another attempt to start the bus was successful! The
engine revived and the port security quickly flagged the bus through the
entrance to the port.
Our
driver had to go to two ships from the same cruise line, since there were
passengers from both onboard. As he helped me exit the bus, I said, “I don’t
know if you believe in prayer…but that was a great answer to prayer!”
“I
believe,” he said with gratitude, “I believe!”
Again,
we were met by kind people who told us to relax, that everything was under
control…and it was! Thank God!
Once
on the ship, the crew also repeated the words, “Remember, this is a cruise, you
don’t have to do anything!” Now, that took a while to sink into my brain—but
not too long!
As
followers of Christ, we don’t have to worry or try to do things our own, just
pray, trust God, and then obey when He shows us what we need to do. By His
grace, God will provide for our needs and also whatever is needed to accomplish
the task(s) before us.
God
is our provider, “Jehovah Jireh.” His grace is sufficient for us. We are in
good hands!
“But
because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with
Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been
saved.” Ephesians 2:4-6
“Let
us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive
mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)
More about the Caribbean Cruise next week! :)
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