One day I decided to show gratitude to my dear friend, Judy, on her birthday. The only problem was finding a way to execute my idea. I loved this friend who had given of her time and gasoline to drive me on errands each week. Our times together developed a close friendship and gave us loads of laughter and memories. If a ride for me had been a gift, then a special ride for her in a unique birthday car was my treat. However, my decision was met with some challenges since I had lost my eyesight, and my plan would take some assistance.

In our blue collar town in the Midwest, there was a hamburger joint that had a hideous chicken car with its name plastered on the side. The car was an old Cadillac with a five foot rooster head on the top and a huge rooster’s tail sticking out the back trunk. It was for rent, and I decided it was the perfect choice for picking up my friend to take to lunch.

When I called to rent it they gladly let me. Of course, I never told them I could not see—and they never asked! I made a second call to another friend and asked if she would go with me to pick up the car. My ultimate plan was to drive it myself—on the edge of town.

After picking up the foul limo, my accomplice and I headed to my friend’s house. Judy lived outside of town, and soon it was my turn to drive. Festive posters, balloons and birthday wishes were on the passenger window. The decoy served to hide my seeing friend. After changing driver’s seats outside the town on a long, paved, country road, my driving friend stooped down on the passenger side to peek over the dash board and tell me where the road was exactly.  It was the perfect GPS system. I never felt so liberated!  My own version of “Driving Miss Daisy” freed me out of the coop, and I now had wings to soar.

I knew Judy would be ready early and waiting in her bay window, looking for my arrival. However, the shock of what she saw only added to the joy of my surprise. She told me later that as she watched down this long road, wondering who would be accompanying me to pick her up for lunch, she spotted the chicken car in motion. The closer I got, the more closely she moved to her window.  Now, standing in astonishment, she said aloud, “What is the chicken car doing out here??”

In moments, I was honking my horn loudly and waving as I turned into her country driveway. She probably thought the rooster had eyes to help me see. Crazy laughter went on for a long time as she finally came to the porch.  Leaning over the rail, hardly knowing what to do, she continued to laugh until she cried. I just kept honking my horn and waving till she could straighten up to meet me at the birthday car.

It is not just the thought that counts, but the effort.  The rest of the afternoon I enjoyed the back seat as my two friends sat in the front as we cruised the town. We thoroughly enjoyed our outing and lunch at the fanciest restaurant on the lake front.

Go on! Decide to work around your challenges today as you think of doing something nice for someone else.

Don’t you love our friend Gail. IF she ever sees obstacles, we never know it. She flows right past them with what seems like the greatest of ease. How does she do that?  Did you see her key point for us this week?  It is not just the thought that counts, but the effort! We’d love to hear what challenge you breezed past recently because you made the effort! Seeing Beyond Together!