Please, Help Me Get Home!

     Julie had invited Jan to come over to her house after school and play. Mom had given her permission to go as long as she was home before dark. She was so excited that she didn't give much thought to the fact that she didn't know much about the part of town Julie lived in. It was nearly eight blocks east from their school. Much further than the three blocks south she usually walked. But the next day found them laughing and giggling as they made trails in the snow all the way to Julie's house. Fresh snow started to float down as they stepped into her warm, cozy home and pulled their boots off. Julie's mom had some yummy hot chocolate and fresh baked cookies to help warm them up even more.

     They played several games and had a fun afternoon, but soon Julie's mom reminded Jan that she must start for home before it got dark. She had had so much fun that she really didn't want to leave, but she knew she would need to in order to get home before dark. As she reluctantly put her rubber boots on she realized that she had not really paid much attention to how they had come here from the school.

     "Julie, I should have paid attention when we walked here. I don't even remember which way to go."

     Julie laughed. "It's easy. Walk down to the corner and turn and it'll go right to your house."

     "Which corner?"

     "The first corner over that way," Julie said pointing south as Jan slipped her coat on.

     "Would you please just walk to the corner with me and show me which way to turn?"

     "Don't be silly. It's cold out there and starting to snow. You will be fine. Go to the corner down there and turn right and you can walk straight to your house."

     "How many blocks after I turn?" Jan asked feeling her stomach knot up nervously.

     "Oh, I don't know. Maybe ten or eleven, but your house is straight down the road because my mom told me so." Julie held the door open. "Come on. It's getting cold."

     Jan ducked out the door and took a deep breath. "Thanks for letting me come and play." She turned to leave as Julie started to close the door. "Are you sure you won't just walk me to the corner  I need to turn at?"

     Julie shook her head. "You'll be fine. I do it every day." And then she shut the door.

     Jan took a deep breath and started in the direction Julie had pointed. She arrived at the first corner and looked down the road. Nothing looked familiar. "Oh, why didn't I pay more attention when we walked here."

     She crossed the street and walked to the next corner and stopped. Still nothing looked at all familiar so she kept walking. The snow started to come down more heavily making things less visible and much colder. By now her feet were cold, it was starting to get dark and she was scared. She began to cry. If only Julie could have walked her to that first corner and shown her the way. If only she'd paid more attention walking there. If only she had started sooner. The "if onlys" could have gone on and on.

     Scared  cold, and alone she walked a few more steps and stopped. None of the houses shrouded behind falling snow looked familiar. Her tears came faster and she stood there shaking. More than anything else she wanted to get home. "Please, Heavenly Father, I am lost and I want to get home. Please help me!"

     She took another deep breath and started walking again. Within minutes a car passed her and then turned around and came back and pulled up by her. She just kept walking until she heard a voice call her name.

     "Janice! Where are you going?" A woman's voice called from the car.

     She stopped as she saw Virginia, another girl from her second grade class, peering at her through the snowy window. She moved closer to the car. "I was playing at Julie's and I left later than I should have and Julie wouldn't show me which way to go home and. . ." She couldn't say any more as her tears came hard and fast now.

     Virginia pushed her door open as her mother said, "You get in right now. You must be near frozen. We'll take you home."

     Jan climbed in, only too grateful for the quick answer to her prayers.

     Virginia's mom glanced back at Janice as the car began to move forward. "We were out to the egg farm. We never come this way, but something just made us change our route. I am so glad we did. Do you realize that you were headed up the canyon?! And in this snowstorm! Oh, I am so glad we came this way!"

     Jan wiped a torrent of tears from her eyes. "Me, too!!" She managed to say through her tears. "What time is it?"

     "It's nearly six." Virginia's mom repleid.

     "Please, will you take me to the store. My mom will still be there, but it's almost time for her to get off work."

     "Certainly, dear, in fact we're almost there." Within seconds they pulled up in front of the department store where Jan's mom worked. Virginia's mom insisted on going with her and making sure she was okay. Jan flew into her mother's arms as her friend's mom explained where they found her.

     That night snuggled into bed after her prayers of gratitude she continued to whisper over and over, "Thank you, Heavenly Father, for helping me get home. Thank you."