Gas Light and Door

I believe I have learned my lesson now to not wait until my gas light comes on to get gas.  I use to ride around a few more kilometers estimating how many more miles I had left before I would be driving on grace and fumes.  Thanks to my Lord and Savior I have never had to walk due to running out of gas or any other malfunctions so Lord I truly appreciate Your grace!

Well today I ran errands, went to work, ran more errands, went back to work and as I was heading home the gas light came one so I thought I better get gas now or I won't make it to church in the morning.  Plus I do not have time to stop in the morning so I actually drove by my apt complex to the closest gas station.  My intent was to get only $5 because their gas is higher than most gas stations and tomorrow afternoon I would stop at a cheaper station and fill up. This would be enough to turn off the "low gas" light and to another gas station tomorrow.

Jammin' to Toby Mac as I pulled into the station and having a positive attitude as usual, I turn off the radio, take out my debit card, turn off the A/C then the ignition.  Same routine for me.  Push down on the lever to pop the door to my gas cover and nothing happened.  I do it 5 - 6 more times and nothing.  My first thought is that this has to work because I need gas.

After standing in 90+ degree heat praying over my car, thanking God Duchess is not with me, hoping anyone of the men who keep pulling up to buy gas would offer to help me since I am using my keys to try and pry it open but none offer.  I go inside and ask a man who I saw pull up in a car with the same make as mine and asked if he knew of another way to open it and he suggested using my keys to pry it open.  I go back out to try it and afraid to break the door and/or my keys so I stop.  I go inside and ask the store clerks for a screw driver and they ask a customer to help me.  He takes two screw drivers and is concerned about breaking the door so stop after he sees he is scratching my car.  Scratches were the least of my concerns. 

So I call my neighbor for suggestions but no answer.  I call my friend and no answer but text reply she is unable to talk.  So I text her my dilemma and she responds with suggestions.  I call roadside assistance but they cannot help because it is considered maintenance and they only offer towing or fuel.  I need fuel and the door to the fuel open but that did not apply.

So my friend tells me to call her husband.  He recommends going to Auto Zone or Pep Boys and asking one of them to pop it open.  I was not forsure if I had enough gas to make it a mile up the street to Auto Zone but what other choice did I have.  So without shame, I laid my hands over the door of my gas tank and prayed out loud and asked God for favor to make it to Auto Zone and for someone who could resolve this issue.  I agreed to drive by faith and not by sight.

All three traffic lights turned green between the gas station and Auto Zone so I did not have to stop and idle.  When I got inside, I tried my best not to look distressed or desperate but realized I was because I began babbling to the clerk when I was asking for help.  He was cute but that was not on my mind at the time. Somehow he deciphered that I was asking him to pop the door to my gas tank. 

He came out to my car with the screw driver but nothing would budge.  He pushed the lever down on the inside of the car that failed for me, and wahla- the door opened.  I asked how he did it and he jokingly began asking me how long I have had the car as if I did not know how to operate the gas door lever.  Then he pulled the lever up and the trunk and gas door opened.  That's not suppose to happen.  We closed the gas door to make sure it was fixed and it would not open again.  I began praying out loud and asking God for help not thinking or caring what the Auto Zone employee would think.  He seemed determined to help me and he did.  He stuck his hand through the lining inside the trunk and pulled out the mechanism that releases the latch to the door.  He showed me that it was worn out and rightly so after six years of use.  If we both weren't sweaty, I would have hugged him.  Instead I just told him to pray I make it across the parking lot to Quik Trip to get gas and I did.

While my tank was filling up with gas, I went inside and bought him a gift card.  That was the least I could do for him helping me for free.  He provided excellent customer service and technically I was not a customer.  Anyway, I drove back to Auto Zone, gave him the gift card, briefly watched his surprise and jetted down the street toward my home. 

God is sooooooooooo faithful and gracious that I had to post this!

Realization

Yesterday was one of the most exciting days in my classroom thus far.  The atmosphere was positive! The Spirit of God was present.  The students came in ready to learn and conquer.  I say this because it is rare- or it had been prior to yesterday- for students to be eager to take tests.  They were asking me if they could take it before the time I had scheduled and at first I was suspicious.  Then I decided to listen to some of them and roll with it.  They did awesome!!!!

Students who have struggled most of the semester made above 80 and one of them was so excited to have made a 90 on her Science Final that she nearly tackled me giving me a hug.  She and I both were teary-eyed in front of the class and probably for the same reason:  she proved to herself what she could do when she study.  She already knows she is smart but now she knows how to study vs. reading over materials.  There is a difference.

Originally, I was really concerned because Fridays are multiple test days.  However, they have known this all year but some still struggle.  Yesterday I saw new attitudes and determinations so I will keep praying and believing that they will remember this day as a success and victory for them.

In addition, one of the K5 classes came and prayed with my class.  I know you are thinking, why is so many classes coming to pray over Sixth Grade?  Yesterday, I think it reminded all the kids how as teachers we think prayer in school is just as important as curriculum.  Plus it gives them opportunity to exercise their faith and gifts in prayer with another kid. 

My class received an extra bonus from it because now they have been exposed to the behaviors, questions and attitudes of people much smaller than them.  This is preparation for them to fulfill their responsibilities next week as Educator For A Day.  Each Sixth Grade student will teach a class K5 thru 5th Grade while the "real" teacher just guides or facilitate.  I am excited for them because they will learn so many things about themselves they may have not learned otherwise.  I will have them write a 2-page paper on their experience and encourage them to put it in their personal journals at home.  They are really excited and some have had their "professional attire" picked out since we originally told them they would do this over two weeks ago.

God is good and worthy to be praised!  I am learning that fewer things are better than seeing a child realize how powerful they are in a positive way!