Due to Tirzah Mae’s clinginess at the end of last week, I delayed grocery shopping until the weekend (hoping that the clinginess would subside.) The clinginess continued, but Daniel agreed to come along and help out. And am I glad he did.
This week I’m thankful…
…for for Daniel’s help while shopping
He dropped me off at the library and sat in the car with Tirzah Mae while I ran in to drop off books and get new ones. He went in and bought our coffee (and some ground mustard) at the Spice Merchant while I stayed in the car with Tirzah Mae.
…that Daniel was with us when we got a flat tire
Yep. On our way from the Spice Merchant to ALDI, the passenger back tire went flat. Like, TOTALLY flat. It was undriveable, the rim was on the ground. But because Daniel was there and actually knows how to change a flat (versus me, who would have spent hours pouring over the owner’s manual trying to figure out just how to get the equipment out from under the seats), it wasn’t that terrible.
…for Oscar lending us a jack
One of the residents of the neighborhood we’d stopped in saw us systematically emptying our vehicle (Tirzah Mae’s big Diono Rainier had to be removed to get at the jack and tire iron and whatnot.) He came out to see what was up and loaned us his floor jack for Daniel to use while changing the tire. What a relief to not have to use the flimsy jack the vehicle is stocked with!
…for a full-size spare
If you’ve ever driven on a donut, you know the relief that is a full-size spare. We could drive comfortably through the rest of our errands, and even leave replacing the blown tire to a more convenient time this week instead of having to get it done that very moment.
…for Providence
Little trials such as these remind me of God’s providence. For every tribulation we face, a dozen more are forestalled. And even in our minor sufferings, God’s faithfulness can be clearly seen in every little (and big) help. May I ever be reminded, in those times when His providence is less visible, that His providence is nevertheless just as real.
“The Lord is my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.”
~Psalm 28:7 (ESV)
Those donut tires can be such a pain. So glad for all the ways God watched out for you this week.
I’ve long thought that a car babysitter is really a brilliant idea. Not that Daniel is a babysitter (by any stretch) but it’s SO NICE to go and run errands with everyone in the car so that one parent can run in and accomplish a task while the other is sitting with the kids. Bonus: everyone gets out of the house together.