Three spots

Last night, I was late in starting back with Olivia for a number of reasons. They were all logical, good reasons and I knew my daughter was very busy and probably needed to work without the aid of a 7 year old.  But by the time I got ready to take the girlie back to her mom it was after 7 PM and  I knew Jackie needed to get back home and get to bed.  I offered to take Olivia all the way home, but my daughter insisted she was going to wait for me at Winslow so I wouldn't have to drive all the way out to the other side of Tontitown.   We hurried.
I had a little less than a quarter of a tank (three spots on the gas gauge) as we set out.  My grand daughter told me I should get gas.  I told her I probably had enough to get her there, but I might have to get gas before I came home.  I didn't want to stop before I left town because her mom was waiting and she needed to get home.  They have to get up quite early to get the kids situated and get to work on time.
Before we reached our end of 540, we were down to two spots. Generally speaking a spot equals about a gallon and my car gets good mileage -we've gotten 38 on the highway and usually get over 30 in town, but there aren't many stations for that stretch on the interstate and once you leave the interstate, the road is steep, winding, and the mileage goes way down.  Liv was watching my gas gauge and nervously announced that I only had two spots.  I told her that a spot was about a gallon of gas.  She wanted to know what a gallon of gas was and I told her it took us about 30 miles.  She said that was 60 miles and I agreed.  She asked how far their house was and I told her maybe 30 miles.

Adults understand that gas gauges are a little more complicated than that.  But to her, we'd already used a spot.  By the time we got off the interstate at Chester, she informed me we were down to one spot.  Yeah, I had noticed.  We talked about it some and she told me there was a station not too far from their house and I could stop and get gas there.  I was concerned that it might not be open at 8 on Sunday night.  But when we finally got to Winslow, it was open.  She wanted me to stop.  She would let her mom know we had to get gas.  I insisted I'd make it to their house and get gas on the way home.  Their house was only a short distance away.  She asked if I would call them if I broke down from not having gas.  I promised to call her as soon as I got gas so she would feel better about it.  She agreed.
After a short look at the progress -it's very lovely- I hugged and kissed and headed out to the highway alone in the rain and dark.  I had no spots left.  Jackie had said the station was open till 8 and it was about 7 minutes before.  I prayed that nothing would cause them to close early and headed down the highway into Winslow.  It was open -actually, until 9.  I got my gas and called my grand girl to let her know I was good and heading home.  I did take time to thank God for the provision and for the weekend with the girls.  
These are the things I took away from it.  1. God knows our need before we ask and he makes provision for us even on cold rainy dark nights.  2. God wants us to ask and trust.  He also wants us to care about other people and ask and trust for them.  3. Things are not always what we think with our understanding or see with our eyes.  4. The small trials of life are there to build our faith and strengthen our walk with God.  I pray that the gratitude of my 3 spot night will help me when I must face a greater trial and bring its request before my God.