Angel Rescue

Tonight I had a couple experiences that helped me feel of Heavenly Father's love in a couple of meaningful ways. Perhaps these would be deemed insignificant to most people. But they were at the perfect time for me!

Tonight I went to a popular hamburger place in Arlington. I've never been to that place. The purpose was to enjoy dinner with several people with whom I'd gone on a humanitarian trip to Guatamala. Since a couple of the leaders of our organization were in town, we were having a mini reunion!

So to get to this place, first I had to drive a busy route that involves circling through the Pentagon North exit. I did ok, and the GPS helped me! But then I got confused and missed a turn. I get stressed in these situations..then the brilliant sunlight was shining so late in the evening- even though it was 5:15PM or so, the sun was painfully bright in my eyes. Finally,  I got near the place but I couldn't find parking, so I backtracked and again attempted to find a parking space.

I found a couple of possible parking spots- all pay spots. I was planning to get one of those and thought I would walk several blocks to the restaurant. Then I circled in a shopping center thinking maybe that had the place- it did! And guess what? I found a parking spot DIRECTLY in front of the restaurant! It felt like winning a lottery of sorts!

I don't mind walking but it is stressful parking in that type of situation and it somehow made me feel special!
Then inside to meet my Guat peeps. The restaurant was quite the busy place.  Seats were hard to find and there was long lines. I was one of the first ones there, and some in our group were running late. One other guy from our group was there, he waited outside looking for our gang.

I hoped to be helpful, so I tried to reserve a table so we'd have a place to sit once everyone arrived. We would ultimately have 8 in our group, but at the time, I had a table for 4. The line would be long, I thought everyone would arrive shortly, so I didn't see harm in trying to stake out a spot.

Two employees came by cleaning, by now I'd noticed the signs posted that said 'not to sit/reserve a table until you had a "number" for your food. Oops! I realized that several such signs were around the store. (you order the food, then get a number to place on the table and they bring the food to you) My plan was to hold the table for our group, let them order, then I'd go order.

So I told the twoemployees that I was sorry I didn't see the sign, but they kindly said it was OK to sit there.

Then an older middle aged lady- I am guessing in her late 60s?- saw me and asked if the table was reserved. I politely said yes. SHE then said I couldn't sit there due to the signs indicating not to reserve!

Uh oh!!
I kindly replied that two employees told me I can stay there. At this point, this lady  became a tad irate- ie she shook her head at me and her nonverbal language indicated annoyance- and she muttered she was going to tell/report this situation.

Really, I am not one to make a scene or get into a disagreement with a stranger.

By now she was actually getting ready to sit at another table.

Right at that moment when she started getting upset at me, I started to get up to give her the table. I calmly said "Here Ma'am".

And at that same moment, a true ANGEL came to my rescue. One of of the employees who delivers the food to the tables saw me start to get up to vacate the table and he said for me to stay sitting. Then he quickly, quietly and discreetly stuck a "fake number 1" on my table so that no one else would hassle me as it would appear I'd already ordered!!

And the lady moved across the room, to a smaller table for her and her dinner guest..

As it turned out,  two of guys from our group said to go ahead and give up the table, since the others were running so late,etc.  All worked out, we got a good table! I returned the "#1 tag" to my Angel!

I told him that in him, I found an Angel in this restaurant!