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Betsy Byrne, Blog, Directions, God, google maps, help, Holly Michael, London, Lost, www.writingstraight.com
My daughter had her wallet stolen while in London and needed help. A hacked email scam message? Frantic situation for a worried mom?
Neither.
Betsy is studying abroad in London. I’d known about the wallet she’d thought she’d left at a restaurant and she’d already taken necessary steps to deal with the situation.
A couple of days later, she was on the way to the police station to file a report in case someone turned in “Wally.” While in my living room, at my PC, a Facebook message from Betsy popped up on my iPhone.
Can’t find the police station. Think I’m lost.
I immediately called her using Vonage, my international calling plan, and discovered she wasn’t far from the university where she was studying. I plugged her address in Google Maps, found the street she was on and searched for the nearest police station. The conversation went something like this:
“Did you pass Roberts Street?”
“Yes.”
I zoomed in. Is there a Starbucks on your right?
“It’s across the street.”
“Go to the other side of the street.”
I clicked on satellite view while she crossed the street. “Are you passing three large trees on your right now?”
“Yes. You can see them?”
“Yes and I see that you are going in the opposite direction from the police station. Turn around and go the other way.”
I kept her on the phone, noting shops along the way, directing her, until she reached her destination. It was almost like I was right there, walking beside her.
At one point she giggled and said, “Can you see me?”
“No,” I said, “but I’m with you, Sweetie.”
We chatted about how comforting it was that, though she was far away, I could help her.
If modern technology can allow mother and daughter, oceans apart, to connect so easily, then imagine how close God, our loving Father, is to us, and how easy it is for Him to help and direct us. He knows the trees along our path and even the sparrows singing in the branches. (He created it all). He’s like a wonderful, loving, super GPS in the sky, able to zoom in on us, warn us when we are going the wrong way, and help us get to our destination.
So whether we are going the wrong way, slightly confused, need a little direction, or totally lost, we can easily connect with God. He’s only a thought…a prayer away.
Proverbs 16:9 The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
Beautiful!
Julio+
“DEO adjuvante, non timendum.” (With the help of GOD there is nothing to be afraid of.)
Sent from my iPhone, Please pardon my typos & laconicism.
Thanks Father Julio
Great story and follow up with a moral lesson. Next time I’m “lost” I’ll be sure to remember to pray. God bless!
Thanks!!
This is so sweet,Holly made me remember my Daughters trip to Australia at 18 all alone, stuck by her first ever panic attack 8000 miles from her Dad I didn’t have a plan so the cell phone call was expensive, funny I don’t remember how much it cost
I hope your Daughter is well and blessed
Thanks, times sure make it easier to stay in touch.
yeah scarey from this side still though
What a great feeling as a mom to be there for your daughter!
Thanks Cindy. It’s so cool that we can still communicate.
Great post and a great reminder! Don’t we have an awesome God!
yep! Our GPS!
Lovely post, Holly.
Prayer: The original GPS system. 🙂
Reblogged and Tweeted!
Thanks Norman! Have a blessed weekend!
Reblogged this on Norman Cooper.
I really enjoyed this post! I am not really great, like not at all, with technology. But I would loved to have known how to do this when my daughter was in London. I did discover Skype when she was there and that was awesome. I will continue to pray for her safety and your peace while she is away. 🙂
Thanks Candy. I have Skype, too….so she doesn’t seem all that far away. Have a blessed weekend
you too!
Loved this Holly! God Bless, SR
Thanks SR. Good to hear from you.
I really adore your post, love the analogy: “He’s like a wonderful, loving, super GPS in the sky, able to zoom in on us, warn us when we are going the wrong way, and help us get to our destination.” I totally agree, and God has certainly blessed you with a loving heart, to help all those in need. Thanks so much for sharing your experiences with all of us, you’ve inspired me to do the same!
Always glad to pass along the inspiration that comes from above. 🙂
Wow! You moved me to tears! What a precious moment for a mom and how more precious we are to our Father! Thanks so much for the tender reminder!
Thanks Marji, it was a nice moment and a good reminder how close our Father in Heaven is to us.
I loved it too!
Technology – pretty amazing, huh? 🙂
This piece is hugely good.
Thanks Steve!
I like this! Thanks, Holly!
What a wonderful scene to use as an example.
Thanks Francene, hope you are well.
Can’t even tell you much I love this! Gave me the warm fuzzies on such a dreary morning. 🙂
~Lynn
Aw, thanks Lynn, Have a great weekend!
Loved this post.
Thanks. It really made me think how close God can be to us. Thanks for stopping by.
Wow, how fortunate she has a ‘computer literate’ mother….For all the things we complain about our electronic ‘age’ there are blessings in them also…Diane
Wow what a great story Holly! Great life lesson and relevant to me because my daughter is in Paris for the next 10 months. Proverbs 3:6 indeed! 🙂
Hi Holly,
I love the way you were able to connect with your daughter, and help her find her way. I am not savvy enough with the technology to be able to do that. Great story!
Gotta keep savvy enough to keep up with those kiddos!
What a great story and life lesson!
That’s a great story, Holly. I can imagine how that must have brought her comfort.
thanks Sandra
i tend to pray a lot too
It certainly helps. I enjoyed checking out your blog and all the pics.
Wonderful! Great analogy of modern technology and God. He is the author and the finisher of it all. A help in every situation.
Amen, He certainly is…and today I’m reminding myself to cast my cares upon Him
Reblogged this on Juju333's Blog and commented:
This wonderful post by Holly Micheal is so well put, I had to share it with all of you. Enjoy!
reblogged
Thanks for the reblog!
What an amazing story. What a wonderful way to help. What a remarkable use of technology. Finally, what a great reminder for all of us. (The Jeremiah verse is close to my heart; my husband used it when he asked me to marry him, and we had it read at our wedding.)
Thanks Margie…love the words from Jeremiah. Gives me lots of hope.
Holly, what a wonderful post, and reminder that God watches and guides us every step of the way. Thank you for visiting me today!
~ Lynda
Wow! It is SO cool that you were able to call and direct her like that! My mom isn’t quite that technologically capable 😉 hahaha. But then my mom gets calls from me like, “Just got out of surgery – i’m fine!” while I’m in Greece, poor dear >.<
Did your daughter ever recover “Wally”?
Oh yes, that would be scary for a mom to hear you just got out of surgery. My daughter’s facebook once tagged her at a hospital. I was in London myself, then and she was in the US. I freaked out making call until I finally heard from her. Apparantly, she’d posted a comment, while walking near the hospital and it tagged her there. Technology sometimes gives us more info than we need to know. And no, Wally is still lost.