Pray Always follow up

I have been remiss in not sharing this experience.

Not long after I posted about Elder Bednar's talk "Pray Always" we had an experience that testifies of the necessity to always be praying. We had taken our big van to my in-laws' for the holiday and driven it on the bumpy roads layered with ice and snow. So when I drove it the next couple of weeks I noticed the car kind of shimmying but didn't think much of it because of the disrepair of the road. I made a mental note to myself that I needed to talk to Steve about it, but I thought since he just drove it, it must not be that big of a deal.

I don't drive the van every day and just kept forgetting about it. Then one day, Jason, Mike and I were running and errand. As we drove to the store we notice the shimmy and a lack of guts when I stepped on the gas. I chalked it up to rotten roads and a cold engine. Then on the way home, it started doing it again. We happened to stop at a light that was on a hill. We were going UP the hill and as soon as the light turned green I stepped on the gas only we went BACKWARDS. Talk about frightening. I immediately knew that I had to call Steve and let him know the transmission was shot. Why I knew it was the transmission is beyond me. I just know the inside of the car (barely), where to put the gas in and where the nearest Ford service lot is. As we continued on our way, and while on the phone with Steve, I made the decision that we had to take it in then and there. No dropping the boys off and then going to Ford. I had to do it then!

I had quite a few more turns and lights to go through as well as a couple of hills to climb--with light on them. I told Jason and Mike to start praying and praying fast! Every single light we came to was RED! EVERY ONE! But as soon as my car was just about to have to stop the car in front was moving because the light had turned GREEN! EVERY SINGLE ONE! I have since counted the light between when I told Jason and Mike to start praying and the Ford place and there are SEVEN and four of those are on hills. But the clincher is that to turn into Ford you have to cross traffic and it is a very, very busy road. I have NEVER had a "free" left turn and have always had to stop before entering their lot. Not this time and not in the very middle of the day when there should have been cars driving up and down this road looking for a place for lunch or doing other business. I turned right into the lot, drove UP their driveway and was able to stop right in front of my mechanic's desk! THAT NEVER HAPPENS! I never once came to a complete stop.

I told Jim (yes, we know him on a first name basis) that I thought it was the transmission. A phone call later that afternoon confirmed it.

I still am in awe that I knew it was the transmission--I shouldn't know that stuff, I barely know the word and what it does in a car. And I wish I could say I'm in awe that our prayers were answered, but I know better. The Lord answers prayers and that day He knew our little trip needed some help with SEVEN green lights.

I just hope that those two young men in my car will remember the day they prayed the van through seven lights and right into the garage.