Stranded

Last Friday my car died in the middle of a four lane highway. I raced from work to get the the chiropractor’s office after a week of misery and not sleeping well; earlier that week I was forced to reschedule two appointments because of working late and child’s needs usurping mine, so I was desperate to get there. Also, the previous week my farm truck died so we gutted the van in order to haul trash and buy feed, but on our way out the driveway the exhaust pipe fell off and I had to drive around sounding like a space shuttle taking off. Stranded in the middle of very busy highway, I was unable to hold back the hot tears of (physical) pain and frustration.

This was the dark climax of the story- the rest of it is so sweet. My son immediately came to rescue me (25 minute drive) and a barefoot, tad bit crazy homeless man ran over and insisted on pushing the dead car across the busy highway (he was worried for my safety and I was worried for his lol) So we humored him and he rescued us and we bought him dinner. Then the tow truck guy arrived and talked me into using his little garage (my insurance pays for the closest garage so they got off easy as I stalled right in front of Firestone!) He was positive he would save me money, and I prefer local to chain businesses, so I agreed.

On the way home Josiah bought a lottery ticket to cheer me up (don’t judge, it was a cheap way to escape the moment), Isaac made dinner, Grace gave me a back massage and Abigail brought treats from the bakery she works at. We all had a laugh at how silly my lamentations of having three broken vehicles sounded when the majority of the world doesn’t even own one! They are all well used, but I’m still wealthy to have so much. Yet, my greatest wealth was the sweetness of relationship with my children sitting around the dinner table.

The gang of rough looking mechanics treated me so well and went out of their way to creatively fix my old car so it wouldn’t cost too much that I decided to drop off the van when I picked up the car and they repeated the same stellar service. Today I have two working vehicles and in the meantime my back slowly healed and barely hurts.

I want to express my thankfulness for all the people who have supported and loved me through this challenging season (especially my kids). And I am forever thankful for my hard working, loving husband who has taken really good care of me for twenty five years (yikes!).   I know it’s super frustrating for him to listen to me melt down when he’s thousands of miles away unable to fix the multitudes of things that tend to break while he’s gone.  These type of experiences just reinforce how spoiled I have been all these years and it’s deepened my appreciation for all he does for me.  And I must confess, I’m a bit proud of my tire changing, weed wacking, power auger hole digging and other such skills  I’ve been forced to acquire.  ( I hear rumor he has actually used a stove this past year- so I guess we are both learning new tricks:)

Life is full of little crises and when you are already under stress it can be challenging to act like a grown up sometimes (let alone a Christian!) but I’m finding quick decompression with exercising thankfulness, even when I don’t feel like it.  In those hard moments it’s an exercise of believing the truth of God’s goodness over the demoralizing and fearful lies the enemy whispers while we are down.  It’s ok to fall, expected even; it’s the getting back up that counts.  So I’m jumping crawling back on my feet and thanking Jesus for all He has done for me!

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Psalm 107:1

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:15-17

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6

Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!  Psalm 106:1

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.  Colossians 4:2

That my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!  Psalm 30:12

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  Colossians 3:17