My husband Charles and I cruised the Florida Turnpike on a typical warm and sunny day, feeling quite pleased with ourselves for choosing February to visit our daughter and her family in Orlando, since Indiana weather reports showed piles of snow with temperatures hovering near zero. We were enjoying our family fun in the sun, but decided that day we would visit a friend in a nursing home in Fort St. Lucie, Florida.

As we sped down the Turnpike, we suddenly spotted an airborne car from the oncoming traffic lanes heading straight for us. To our relief, the car hit the ground before clearing the guardrail, bounced around, then slid about 50 feet with tires smoking and throwing sod before it came to a stop. Charles immediately pulled our car to the side of the road, and waited for a break in traffic before he darted across the Turnpike to the scene.

With debris still swirling around the car, a young girl jumped out. She was crying, shaking, and wondering what had just happened. Not able to find her cell phone in her disoriented state, she asked Charles for his so she could call 911. I could see she was very upset and in need of comfort and support, so I also crossed the road. A police officer arrived about the same time.

As the police officer talked with her, we learned she was a college student on her way to work at Disney World, and she was very anxious to call her parents in Massachusetts. The experienced officer suggested that, since she and her car seemed to be fine except for a flat tire, she should wait to call them until she calmed down. The girl was near hysterics.

As the police officer stepped back, I stepped forward without saying a word, and just opened my arms. The girl ran into my embrace, crying and shaking, and said, "Oh, thank you! Oh, thank you! I needed that hug." I stood there just holding her and comforting her until she calmed down.

Together, we found her cell phone, and I stayed by while she dialed her parents. After talking with them for a couple of minutes, she turned and fell into my arms again, just wanting to be held and hugged. She stayed there until the police officer asked her to come to his car while he completed the police report.

My husband and another spectator changed the flat tire. After dusting off his hands, Charles said, "Let's go." As we turned to leave, the young driver ran after us. She grabbed me and held me, and said, "Oh, thank you for stopping. Thank you for the help, and thank you so much for the hugs." I held her a few more moments before crossing the road to continue our journey.

We had an appointment with our friend in the nursing home, but had been unaware that God had another appointment for us to give loving hugs to one of His children. We may not know when they are needed, but God does.

Ramona Trubey is a member of the Cicero Seventh-day Adventist Church in Indiana.