something special for Christmas.
As she drove to the mall late that afternoon, Krista ran through the things she needed to find. As much as she loved shopping,
she hoped she could finish buying for her list before the stores closed.
The hours passed quickly, though, and Krista still had three more presents to find when the mall announced it was closing.
She picked up her pace. How had it gotten so late? She hated being at the mall when it closed, not just because it made her
feel rushed but because it wasn’t safe. Her parents had warned her just that afternoon.
“If you’ll be out late, take a friend.” Her mother had patted her hand, her smile warm and gentle. “Mall parking lots are
dangerous after hours, especially during the holidays.”
The warning rang through Krista’s heart as she headed for the cash register. In ten minutes she’d made it through the line,
gathered three bags in her arms, and dug through her purse for her car keys.
Hurry, Krista,
she told herself. Why hadn’t she brought her mother’s cell phone? That way shecould at least call and tell them she was on her way. They were probably worried sick about how late she was out.
Outside, Krista walked across the dark, cold parking lot, still fumbling for her keys. Lost in her search, she barely noticed
in her peripheral vision something move up ahead near her car. Finally her fingers wrapped around her keys and she looked
up. The parking lot was nearly empty. Why had she parked so far away? She glanced about, her heart beating faster than before.
Then she picked up her pace.
In daylight, she might not have worried about her safety in such a situation. But now, in the pitch dark and all alone in
the parking lot, Krista was suddenly frightened. Trying to stay focused, she took quick steps toward her Toyota, opened the
door, and climbed inside.
Suddenly, a masked man appeared a few feet from her window. His eyes were wild and he was pointing a gun at her. He took a
few hurried steps toward her car, and motioned for her to open the door. With trembling hands, Krista locked her door and
tried to start her car. Nothing happened. The man banged his gun against her window as Krista turned the key again. Again,
silence. The engine was completely dead.
“Please, God!” she whispered. “I need your help!”
The man smashed the gun against her window another time, this time cracking the glass. Closingher eyes, Krista tried once more to start the car, and finally the engine turned over. In an instant, Krista slammed the car
into gear and sped off, leaving the man in the shadows.
Krista cried the entire way home. What had the man wanted from her? And how long had he been waiting by her car? Even stranger,
why hadn’t her car started the first time she turned the key? The engine was in perfect condition, according to their family’s
mechanic.
Whatever happened back there, God, thanks for getting me through it.
She was still shaking when she pulled into her driveway, shut off the engine, and headed up the walkway. A shudder worked
its way through her as she imagined the things that man might have done if he’d been able to break her window and get inside.
Still feeling weak, she made her way inside. There she tearfully shared the incident with her parents.
Immediately, her father called the police. When he’d made a report, he turned to Krista. “You’re safe now,” he told her as
he hugged her tight.
“But I thought …” Krista’s crying became sobs.
“God was looking out for you, honey.” Her mother reached out and took her hand. “He helped you get away … I have no doubt
about that.”
Krista’s father cocked his head. “You say the car wouldn’t start?”
“Right. It was weird, Dad. It was like it was broken or something.”
“Let’s go take a look at it.” Her father grabbed a flashlight and led the way back outside to where Krista’s Toyota was parked
in the driveway. “I
As she drove to the mall late that afternoon, Krista ran through the things she needed to find. As much as she loved shopping,
she hoped she could finish buying for her list before the stores closed.
The hours passed quickly, though, and Krista still had three more presents to find when the mall announced it was closing.
She picked up her pace. How had it gotten so late? She hated being at the mall when it closed, not just because it made her
feel rushed but because it wasn’t safe. Her parents had warned her just that afternoon.
“If you’ll be out late, take a friend.” Her mother had patted her hand, her smile warm and gentle. “Mall parking lots are
dangerous after hours, especially during the holidays.”
The warning rang through Krista’s heart as she headed for the cash register. In ten minutes she’d made it through the line,
gathered three bags in her arms, and dug through her purse for her car keys.
Hurry, Krista,
she told herself. Why hadn’t she brought her mother’s cell phone? That way shecould at least call and tell them she was on her way. They were probably worried sick about how late she was out.
Outside, Krista walked across the dark, cold parking lot, still fumbling for her keys. Lost in her search, she barely noticed
in her peripheral vision something move up ahead near her car. Finally her fingers wrapped around her keys and she looked
up. The parking lot was nearly empty. Why had she parked so far away? She glanced about, her heart beating faster than before.
Then she picked up her pace.
In daylight, she might not have worried about her safety in such a situation. But now, in the pitch dark and all alone in
the parking lot, Krista was suddenly frightened. Trying to stay focused, she took quick steps toward her Toyota, opened the
door, and climbed inside.
Suddenly, a masked man appeared a few feet from her window. His eyes were wild and he was pointing a gun at her. He took a
few hurried steps toward her car, and motioned for her to open the door. With trembling hands, Krista locked her door and
tried to start her car. Nothing happened. The man banged his gun against her window as Krista turned the key again. Again,
silence. The engine was completely dead.
“Please, God!” she whispered. “I need your help!”
The man smashed the gun against her window another time, this time cracking the glass. Closingher eyes, Krista tried once more to start the car, and finally the engine turned over. In an instant, Krista slammed the car
into gear and sped off, leaving the man in the shadows.
Krista cried the entire way home. What had the man wanted from her? And how long had he been waiting by her car? Even stranger,
why hadn’t her car started the first time she turned the key? The engine was in perfect condition, according to their family’s
mechanic.
Whatever happened back there, God, thanks for getting me through it.
She was still shaking when she pulled into her driveway, shut off the engine, and headed up the walkway. A shudder worked
its way through her as she imagined the things that man might have done if he’d been able to break her window and get inside.
Still feeling weak, she made her way inside. There she tearfully shared the incident with her parents.
Immediately, her father called the police. When he’d made a report, he turned to Krista. “You’re safe now,” he told her as
he hugged her tight.
“But I thought …” Krista’s crying became sobs.
“God was looking out for you, honey.” Her mother reached out and took her hand. “He helped you get away … I have no doubt
about that.”
Krista’s father cocked his head. “You say the car wouldn’t start?”
“Right. It was weird, Dad. It was like it was broken or something.”
“Let’s go take a look at it.” Her father grabbed a flashlight and led the way back outside to where Krista’s Toyota was parked
in the driveway. “I
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