Meanwhile...

...I love it that God can multi-task. I hesitate to write this, because I'm sure in light of all that has happened in "the real world" this week, this really doesn't matter. But it matters to me, and it's my blog, so I guess that gives me the right to write!

I paid a visit to my actually semi-friendly BMV today. I laughed out loud when they handed me a receipt declaring that my transaction time had taken 2 minutes and 14 seconds. Because clearly...I spent my entire lunch hour in that place. And then some. I had to call in to work to report that I hadn't fled the county (as I am known to threaten to do on my way out the door for lunch). But anyway, a rather significant holiday takes place this coming Monday...a holiday which leads to the expiration of my license and the need for a new one.

You must understand that I was rather attached to the picture on my old license. It was a great hair day, I was sort of tan...loved it! I had prepared myself to be unable to top what I'd accomplished that day four years ago. I was NOT prepared for what I saw when they handed me the little card. It wasn't a bad picture. I was smiling, my eyes were open, the lady had zoomed out purposefully to include my chunky necklace (a gesture I found very kind)...but I looked ten years older than I am.

Not that the age looming ten years in my future is old. I just don't want to look that age yet. I don't even want to look my real age.

That little bump in the day, of course, magnified the aforementioned tornado situation, and I was a wreck by mid-afternoon. Our secretary came back to tell me someone had come to the office and asked for me...and she didn't know a name. All the way from my office to the front desk, I prayed, "PLEASE, Jesus. I had a bad license picture. I cannot take a mad parent. Please just let them be kind."

I walked out front to find the mother of two fantastic young ladies I've been privileged to serve as part of my caseload for the past five years. This Mom has been a joy. She has been patient and loving and polite, even when stressed. And her daughters are following in her footsteps. What a joyful, loving family.

And that sweet Mom stood out in our lobby with a vase full of flowers...for me. I cried. (Shocker.) It's a treat to get a verbal thank you...this was my first round of flowers, ever. I love flowers, so this was the most perfect gift. And then she stood there and started pulling things out of a sack...a book...a candle...a card. All for me. Just because.

I told her this could not have come at a more perfect time and hugged her so tightly she probably lost all her air. The secretary had already told her I was having a bad day, and this Mom looked me straight in the eye and said, "I don't know what you think you've done wrong today, but for my family, you've done five years of right."

If I could have framed her words, I would have. What a gift! That whole visit was directly from God, and I know that. Even in the middle of helping a town clean up a tornado, He had time to zoom in on my little office and my bad picture...and He sent me an angel.