Oxygen Girl

      I am trying to define Oxygen Girl for some collages I am doing.  I first met Oxygen Girl on my trip to Missouri last year.  I think it was the first time I ever flew alone, rented a car, made my hotel reservations for just me.  I arrived in the rain, had lost my driving glasses, it was night and I desperately needed them.  I had a 4 hour drive from St. Louis to the middle of nowhere, to see my son for the first time in 3 months!  I was being BRAVE and over the previous year had found STRENGTH from God alone.
      So as I drove, incredibly stressed because I couldn't see and it was pouring, the idea of Oxygen Girl started mulling it's way through my  mind.  I finally pulled over to hunt again, get gas ( I couldn't believe the rental car hadn't been filled) and take a breath.  I kept trying to put gas in the car, in the rain, while talking to the gas pump with exaggerated hand motions, it kept clicking so I finally went in to drag someone else out into the rain to help me.  Turns out I had been looking at the temperature of the engine gauge, not the gas tank one!  I left and went across the street and when I spotted a Starbucks, it was like seeing an old friend!  Literally.  I got out, got some coffee and looked again for my glasses.  There in the curved under part of my computer bag, they were hiding. 
      So as I got back on the road and began again to think about Oxygen Girl, the idea began to take root.  I was leaning on the Lord so INCREDIBLY much.  In the past year, I'd gone through an intense divorce, moved, closed my really cute store, been unemployed, lost my father to cancer, and nearly lost a son to drug and alcohol abuse.  I realized that, just like on an airplane when the oxygen masks come down and we are told you have to put it on yourself first, or you're no good to anyone else, JESUS was my Oxygen Mask!  I have 4 kids and desperately needed to be strong for them, but without Oxygen I just couldn't make it.
      Over and over the Lord has been so good to me.  He holds me in his hand.  He tells me he DELIGHTS in me.  He gives strength to this weary girl.  Over and over.  Faithful always.  It is a JOURNEY that I have learned to CELEBRATE, even in the pain.  Oh, and have I mentioned JOY?  and PEACE?  I am so amazingly BLESSED to have the privilege