Thursday, August 22, 2013
I woke up with a sense of purpose today. Feeling led by faith, I changed my Facebook cover photo to a 2007 Honda CRV—the car I had set my heart on. Every time I logged into my profile, I wanted to see it, to claim it as mine. Since visiting the dealership, I had searched the web for similar cars within our area and price range, but nothing seemed to match what we were looking for. Still, I held onto my faith and stood firm on Psalm 37:4 (AMP): “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.”
Saturday, August 24, 2013
I woke up with a pressure headache—undoubtedly from nerves. Today was a big day. The Coach and I were heading out for a full day of driving practice and car hunting. We left the house just before 8 AM, and he directed me to drive to the next city over, Alvin, TX, where the DMV was located. It was a 13-mile journey, requiring me to get on the highway. Once there, he took me through a parallel parking lesson in the DPS parking lot.
At first, I struggled—positioning the car too far from the curb. After 30 minutes, he sighed and said, “Maybe I should have let Uncle Bas show you this again. I must not be a great teacher.”
Something in me snapped. I knew he was an incredible coach, and I refused to let him think otherwise. Instead of giving up, I whipped the car around and executed a near-perfect parallel park—not once, but twice. I turned off the ignition, faced him, and said, “Don’t you dare! You are an awesome teacher! I don’t want you ever to think it’s your fault if I’m not mastering something.”
He smiled, nodded, and told me to head home. Looking back, I realized what he had done. By shifting my focus from my failures to encouraging him, he helped me unlock my own determination. That’s the kind of coach he was—not just in football, but in life.
After our lesson, hunger hit. We hadn’t eaten before leaving, and I suggested stopping for food before one of us got cranky (okay, before I got cranky). Just then, we spotted a Waffle House—one I never expected to find outside of Georgia. Surprisingly, the Coach had never eaten at one despite his numerous scouting trips across the South. That changed today. Pearland’s Waffle House did not disappoint—the food was delicious, and the staff’s joyful energy made the experience even better.
By now, my headache was still lingering, so the Coach took the wheel as we continued our car search. First stop—the Ford dealership near our home. The lot was nearly empty, and we were soon greeted by a young man named Sky, who introduced himself as an Internet Sales Manager. As it turned out, no other sales reps were available, so he became our guy for the day.
We explained exactly what we were looking for: a reliable, low-mileage vehicle under $10,000 with a short financing term—no more than 36 months. After running the numbers, Sky found a few options for us, but none truly spoke to me. I had spent the last several months driving SUVs and pickup trucks; now, the idea of a low-riding sedan just didn’t sit right with me. Houston’s unpredictable rainstorms often cause road flooding, and I wanted a vehicle that could handle high water if needed.
As discouragement crept in, I fought back by humming Kurt Carr’s The Presence of the Lord, but with my own twist: “The Favor of the Lord is here.” Every time doubt crept in, I sang it out loud, declaring God’s favor over the situation.
When I asked Sky if he had any crossover SUVs in our price range, he suggested a 2013 Ford Escape. It was nice, but something about it didn’t sit right with my spirit. When the numbers came back, they were double what we wanted to pay. We were ready to leave when Sky asked if we could wait a bit while he checked the certified pre-owned inventory.
We agreed. While waiting, I continued humming and read from It’s Your Time by Joel Osteen—a book that had been transforming my mindset all month. About 10 minutes later, Sky pulled up in a pastel blue-green 2007 Ford Edge Hybrid.
The moment I saw it, I knew.
The price was below our budget, the mileage was low, and it met every one of our requirements. We hopped in for a test drive, and I fell in love. When we got back, Sky left us alone with the car. I got behind the wheel, just to feel it. I drove it forward, reversed it—so smooth. I got out and inspected every inch, taking pictures, praying over it. Outside of minor wear and tear, it was perfect.
When we sat down to negotiate, God showed up. The dealership not only met every condition we requested—they dropped the price by $1,000 and threw in a maintenance plan. We had no clue we’d be driving off the lot with my first car that very afternoon!
One problem: we had come in one car. Which meant…I had to drive home alone.
With my road test less than a week away, this would be my first time navigating live traffic solo. The Coach decided that I would drive our Jeep while he drove my new car. I followed him, merging onto the highway, getting separated momentarily, then reconnecting on the back roads home.
When I pulled up to our curb, I just sat in the car, overwhelmed with gratitude. I had trusted God, and He had delivered—not just a car, but a tangible sign of His favor. That’s why I named her Favor—short for The Favor of the Lord.
Next in the series: The final countdown to my road test! Would I be ready?
© 2025, Lela Fagan. All rights reserved.
