Terry and I had the joy and privilege of driving through Texas during the snow and ice storm in February. In the event it does not come through, that line is dripping with sarcasm. We were in West Texas where the sun was shining, it was 55 degrees and blue skies were overhead. We decided to drive further than our original plans, due to the great weather.
I kid you not, we stopped at a rest area and high-fived one another with this decision to keep going. We hopped into the truck and I called Marriott’s toll free number to cancel that night’s hotel reservation, and to book another hotel in San Antonio, Texas. At this point, we were about four and a half hours from San Antonio. An “easy” drive, we determined. The man on the line with me could not have been more kind, and he laughed with us as we told him our plans. “We want to get out ahead of this bad weather we are hearing about,” we explained.
While we were on the phone, I noticed the temperature dropped like a Price Is Right wheel. The temperature gauge went from, “55, 54, 53, 52, 51, 48, 46, 44, 42 …” so much so, that I tapped Terry’s right arm and said, “I think this is broken!” and pointed at the screen.
Within driving 10 miles, the temperature dropped 25 degrees. It dropped from 55 to 30. Terry let his window down to stick his hand outside to feel the air. Surely this was a problem with our screen, and not the temperature falling that drastically?
“It’s cold!” he said.
“30, 28, 26” were the new numbers. I nervously laughed with our new friend from Marriott, and said we would likely be running into the bad weather, even though we thought we would be ahead of it.
All of a sudden, we hit freezing fog. Neither Terry nor I have ever driven through freezing fog. I do not recommend it.
The side mirrors froze almost immediately, and visibility was basically non-existent. This is where the joy and privilege of driving through Texas, ended.
Our four and a half hour trip turned into an eight hour trip. We were thrilled to make it through that drive, alive. We slipped, slided and prayed our way through West Texas. As we found ourselves getting closer to San Antonio, we did not want to risk driving too far off the interstate and decided our decision to stay on the Riverwalk might not be the best plan. So I called Marriott again, explained our driving conditions and asked for a hotel closer to the interstate.
We were happy to make it safely to the San Antonio Marriott Northwest. Upon arrival, Terry and I were concerned about the parking lot being so dark. No lights to illuminate our walk with luggage (not to mention slipping on possible black ice) prompted Terry to drop me off at the front entry with our luggage and he would go park the truck. Just before Terry drove off, I realized our computer bag was still in the backseat. “Baby, we need our computer bag,” I shouted. Terry got it out of the backseat, walked it over to me, then went to park.
As badly as we wanted to sleep late the next morning, we knew more bad weather awaited us, and the safest decision was to get back on the road once there was daylight.
When we walked out to our truck the next morning, I noticed the vase of roses in the cup holder had fallen over and was all over the middle console area. “Bless his heart, I guess he knocked them over last night when he got our computer bag,” I thought. As I waited for Terry to unlock the doors, he said, “Sweetheart, someone has been through the truck.”
We had three large bins in the backseat from our trip, and only two were there. The roses Terry had given me as an early Valentine’s Day gift were knocked over and the water from the vase had frozen on the seats. The middle console had been ransacked and the glove box, as well. Because I am so frugal, we always travel with wine. (It’s always cheaper than hotel/restaurants). I opened the backseat door behind my seat, and there were still six bottles of wine. We originally had six bottles of wine. What kind of thief doesn’t steal wine? (The kind looking for drugs, guns and money, we figured).
They broke the driver door handle to get into the truck, and apparently pulled the top bin across the seats. I also had a really cute, black Victoria’s Secret tote bag in the backseat that they stole. It was full of protein bars and snacks. Terry had packed this bag, so meticulously. Each snack had its own ziplock bag. Terry was way more upset about the snack bag being stolen than everything else.
Although we were parked very close to the front entry, the dark lot allowed the thieves an opportunity to rob and steal with ease. Another truck parked directly across from the front entry was not nearly as fortunate as we were. Their driver window was totally smashed, and glass covered the ground, next to it.
Terry pulled up to the entry and went inside to let them know about the break-in. Our truck alarm alerted them at 3:15AM, and they handed us a card with a police officer’s name and telephone number. (They did not ask us upon checking in which vehicle was ours, so their guess was as good as anyone’s with regards to whom the alarms belonged). We would later learn this happens on a weekly basis at this hotel. Sometimes multiple times throughout the week … and not just in the dark. The manager told Terry the robbery events happen at lightning speed, “I’ve had customers check in at 3:15 in the afternoon and have their car stolen, 44 seconds, later. We want to be able to make this right with each of you, but it would destroy our business, if we did.”
By the end of the phone call, Terry was feeling sorry for the manager and told him not to worry about anything where we were concerned, but that he really should invest in some lights and security. The manager told Terry he had another hotel close to this one a few years ago, with a full time security, and the decrease in criminal activity did not exist. The thieves were still brazen and bold, right in front of security guards, and were so fast acting, they were never caught.
The bin the robbers stole had a lot of clothes in it. Most of my workout clothes; sports bras, shorts, tank tops, some of Terry’s shorts and socks, as well as my swimsuits (that I didn’t get to wear because it was too cold, but they were brand new from last year!) and swimsuit coverup.
““For I, the Lord, love justice. I hate robbery and wrongdoing. I will faithfully reward my people for their suffering and make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendants will be recognized and honored among the nations. Everyone will realize that they are a people the Lord has blessed.”” - Isaiah 61:8-9 (NLT)
This is not Terry’s and my first rodeo dealing with thieves and robbers. It is going to cost us to repair the door because they have to replace portions of it, and paint it. The shorts, sports bras, panties, bras, pajamas, swimsuits, cover-ups; Terry’s shorts and socks … we can replace them. (I’m bitter because most of my shorts were from TJ Maxx, and they don’t make those anymore, and the tank tops are from Target; they don’t carry that style and brand anymore, and the pajama bottoms were my favorites from a couple of Christmases ago.)
I wish I could tell you I immediately prayed for the robbers and thieves, but I didn’t. I called them buttmunchers. After seeing the other truck in the parking lot with the shattered glass, though; I saw just how fortunate we were. We were able to get on the road and head east. Those people were not as fortunate. There was no way they could drive in that snow and ice with their windows shattered.
Then I began thinking, “What kind of person is so desperate, they break into vehicles and steal things?” I am not for one second excusing their behavior. But my true hope is that some little girl or young woman feels special, dressed to the nines in my Victoria’s Secret underthings, sports bras, pajamas and workout clothes. I also hope the thieves realize God loves justice. He hates robbery and wrongdoing.
I shared this long winded story with you for the reminder we all need. God Himself loves justice.
God Himself hates robbery and wrongdoing. Those are strong words, my friend. You and I are seeing an awful lot of nastiness and evil these days. But we can still show love in the face of hate. We can still shine His light in the darkness. We can rest assured that none of the evil we see or even experience is hidden. God Himself loves justice.
That is more than enough for me.