God’s Blessing
Every Tuesday, my husband, Lamont, golfs with three of his friends. This particular morning, he had an early tee time and planned to get gas in the golf cart before going to the course. He ate breakfast, kissed me goodbye, and left.
I pulled out my trampoline and exercised for one hour. I finished took a shower. I heard the phone ringing and started to let it go to voice mail, but something told me to answer the call.
I grabbed the towel, wrapped around me, and picked up the phone on the third ring. My legs felt weak, and I had the weirdest feeling that something wasn’t right. I heard Lamont’s voice and knew. “What’s wrong?”
“I’ve had an accident.”
Panic filled my body, afraid to ask, “Are you okay?”
He was slow to answer and said, “I walked into a pole and got a scratch. I’m fine.”
He didn’t sound like himself. I decided to wait until I saw him to ask for the details of what happened. “I’m coming to get you. Where are you?”
“I’m at the Circle K gas station on 27/441.”
Lamont knows how directionally challenged I am and had no idea where he was. “Are you near Walmart?”
I could hear the annoyance in his voice. “No, I’m…” He paused. “You know where the restaurant, Perkins, is located?”
“I think.”
“Okay. You know where the Fiesta Bowling Center and the CVS store are located?”
Finally, the light bulb came on. “Okay, I know where you are. It’s the gas station across from Perkins.”
“That’s it.”
“Okay, Sweetie, I’ll be there as quick as I can.” I hung up the phone, nervous and shivering.
As I dried off, I said a prayer. “Lord, I give all the praise and glory to you. Please put your protective arms around Lamont and whatever injuries he has make them minor. I ask these things in your precious Son’s name. Amen.”
I put on a sundress, sandals, and ran a comb through my hair. Afterwards, I grabbed my keys and climbed into the car. My hand shook as I started the car, trying to remain calm. I said another prayer. “Lord, give me the strength to deal with whatever I have to face. In addition, please keep me safe as I drive to the gas station. Thank you. Amen.”
Obeying the speed limit and driving with cautious, I drove to the gas station. I pulled into a parking space and as I climbed out of the car, two women rushed toward me. “Are you Mrs. Harris?”
“Yes.”
Both women were animated and talking in unison. “One at a time, please.”
“We’re sorry.” A tall, slender, white woman introduced herself. “My name is Maggie, the manager. An ambulance took Mr. Harris to The Villages’ Hospital.”
Nerves took over, and it took everything for me not to cry. Why was he taken to the hospital? Lamont said his injury was a scratch. I exhaled, trying to remain calm, my voice low. “Is he alright?”
Maggie said, “He had a bad cut under his eyes that caused a lot of bleeding. I could see the white meat.” She paused and shook her head. “I hope it doesn’t mess up his pretty face.”
I tried not to show any emotion, but Maggie must have sensed I was about to breakdown and smiled, trying to comfort me. “Your husband is amazing. After he walked into the pole, he didn’t swear or get upset. Instead, he was busy comforting us as well as the man who owes the truck.”
None of what she was saying made sense. I didn’t know how Lamont walked into a pole and now I hear that a truck’s involved. I needed to go to the hospital. Before I left the gas station, I thanked the manager and left.
After parking the car, I hurried into the hospital entrance and went straight to the information desk. “I understand my husband, Lamont Harris, was brought here by ambulance. Can you tell me where he is?”
A grayed-headed woman in a volunteer smock smiled and glanced at the computer. “He’s in the emergency room.” She pointed. and I sprinted to another part of the hospital and rushed to the information desk.
I repeated myself, asking about Lamont’s whereabouts. Without hesitation, the woman said, “He’s been taken to a room. If you have a seat, I’ll have someone take you to him.”
I didn’t want to sit, but I did. Although I tried to remain positive, it was hard to keep the negative thoughts from entering my mind. As I became restless, a woman dressed in green approached me. “Are you Mrs. Harris?”
I nodded.
“Please come with me.” As I followed the woman, I asked her several questions, but she would only say that a doctor would answer my questions.
The woman stopped in front of a drawn curtain and told me to go inside. I walked around and gasped. Lamont had a deep, ugly cut below his right eye. It was still bleeding.
I gave him a hug, tears cascading down my face. My voice was shaky. “What happened?”
“I…” Before he could answer, a petite woman dressed in a beige suite walked in.
“Are you Mrs. Harris?”
“Yes. You need to come with me.”
I shook my head. “I just got here and I want to stay with my husband.”
“I understand, but before your husband can receive treatment, you need to fill out some medical forms and obtain your medical insurance information.”
“Are you serious?”
“I apologize, but it’s hospital procedure.”
Fuming, I left Lamont, completed the forms, and returned to him. I still didn’t know what happened to my husband and before I could ask him about the accident, a doctor joined us.
“Hello. My name is Dr. Jefferson. I’ll be taking care of you.” As he examined Lamont, he said, “You were lucky. Another inch and you would have lost your eye. Now, let me stitch your wound. I’ll do the best that I can, but you’ll need to see a plastic surgeon.”
After Dr. Jefferson stitched Lamont’s face, he gave me a prescription to have filled, made an appointment for him to see a plastic surgeon, and we left.
On the way home, I was finally able to ask Lamont what happened. “I stopped at the gas station to get gas and it was dark. A truck pulled in and had a pole hanging out the back. He was supposed to have a flag on it and he didn’t. In the dimly lit area, I walked into the pole.”
I started to cry and Lamont touched my hand. “It’s okay. I’m fine and it’s a blessing that it wasn’t more serious.”
“You’re right and thank God for putting his protective arms around you, keeping you from all harm.”
