Sweet Sounds From Heaven

It was a beautiful fall day in the mountains of Grayson County Virginia. My sister, brother-in-law and I had just arrived for a weeks visit at Whitetop, and we were so excited. This is where Karen and I were from and we had not been home in some time. Karen and Ralph stayed on Pond Mountain in the cabin where our grandmother was born in 1903. I stayed with Doyle and Kaye, as I am a creature of comfort. We were trying to see as many of our folks as possible and one cousin lived across Whitetop mountain in Troutdale. Teresa invited us to come over for dinner and play guitar and sing, as was our custom when we got together. Karen and Ralph went over early and I told them I would be over later. We enjoyed their company and played and sang until we couldn’t.

It was about 6 o’clock and we decided we had better head back across the mountain toward our temporary homes. The sky had grown rather dark and a little snow had just begun to fall. This storm came out of nowhere. We left and by the time we reached the base of the mountain we were to cross, we were in a full fledged blizzard. I could hardly believe my eyes. Karen and Ralph were in front of me in a truck and I was in my trusty Honda. We had climbed the base of the mountain at its widest point just before it narrows to practically nothing. Nothing that is, but an embankment on the right and a deep fall to sudden death on the left.

Ralph stopped the truck and came back to my car. I had already started praying because things seemed to be pretty dire. Ralph was obviously shaken and said, “Sandy, I can’t see anything; this snow is blinding me and the headlights just go into space.” I said, “I know Ralph, this is serious.” He suggested I go in front and see if I could see any better. It was worth a try. I made it around his truck and was in the lead. I could see no better. However, I prayed “Jesus, if I ever needed you, I need you now.”

Suddenly, my headlights turned 45 degrees toward the embankment. I was shocked beyond belief. I could see the mountain. Dirt had never looked so good. I simply followed the winding, narrow dirt road all the way up the mountain, across the mountain and down the other side. It took about 10 minutes and the headlights never left the side of the mountain. I was crying and rejoicing all the while. It was obvious we were descending, but still could see nothing but the mountain. Then the headlights were straight ahead again. I thought, oh no, He’s left me, then immediately I saw the black top directly in front of me. Highway 58 was so beautiful I wanted to kiss it. I was so pleased and excited. We were safe. God had intervened and literally saved our lives.

 God is so good and I am ever grateful we have a God who can do anything. The next day was another beautiful fall day; the snow was history, so short lived. I stood on the porch and looked at my Honda as if it had life. It sure did the night before. Somehow I wanted it to talk to me, wink, blow kisses, anything, but of course it did nothing but sit there in the driveway like a good little car. You know, Jesus spoke to trees, the wind, dead people, fevers and they all obeyed Him.  Obviously, headlights obey Him too.  I will never forget our trip to Whitetop in October 1988 and especially our trip across Whitetop Mountain. God is so faithful and very, very smart.

Filed under: Miracle Moments