What Will Today Bring?

I had been having a pretty craptacular day today.  Uncertain about the future....about a place to live....about an income....you know the kind where you feel like just going back to bed and pulling the covers up until tomorrow.  Something happened tonight that really made me stop and think about life.
About 8pm and older couple pulled in, came into the office and told me that they wanted to pay for a room for a young couple they had found broken down on the road.  I just kind of nodded, gave them the lowest rate possible and as I was checking the young couple in the older woman said that she had had a beautiful day and that this was her pay it forward.  I smiled and told her I totally understood.  They left, the young couple went to their room and I thought my night was probably done....I was wrong.  About 30 minutes later another older woman came in with a young woman and asked if I had a room.  She explained that she had found the young woman shivering and crying in the park and after talking to her, found out that she had been recently raped and that the people that was suppose to meet her here and take her on the next leg of her journey had not showed up (it sounded like an underground railroad thing where people help others in abusive situations get to a safe house).  She wanted to pay for the womans room for the night and asked if I would keep her safe until it could get all figured out.  As she paid and left her last words were "the angels will watch over and pay it forward when you can".  I am thinking wow this is not a usual night at the Inn.  Just before lock up tonight I had a mother and daughter come in and ask if they could park in the parking lot and sleep in their truck so at least they wouldn't be in a truck stop etc.  Well to make a long story short....2 people before that had paid for rooms and all they asked was for it to be paid forward....what else could I do but give them a room that was warm for the night with the same admonition....pay it forward when you can.
This experience had really made me feel small for feeling down about my own situation.  I have pulled up my boot straps and to coin a phrase from Mom "put my big girl panties on".  I  don't know what the next few days. weeks, months and years will hold for me but I do know that I have angels watching out for me....that prayers are answered....and that my life is by gods will and not by mine.
Thank you father for the examples of unconditional love, selflessness, generosity, and knowledge that you have given me....especially this day!