Category: Religion

The first day back after spring break started with what could have been a hefty expense.

I took the dog out for short walk to the garbage in our complex and back.  During that time, my husband decided to go down to the car and retrieve some paper goods I had purchased yesterday.  He took the car keys.  As I was returning to the apartment, I see my husband trying all the keys on the ring to get the door open.  I looked at him and told him that those were not the house keys.  He looked at me and uttered an expletive.

I knocked on the neighbor’s door ( I knew he would be up, he has a cigarette every morning when I walk the dog).  He allowed us to use his phone to call a locksmith.  You may ask why didn’t I call my son?  Well, you see, my phone was in the apartment with the house keys, locked.  Also, with the advancement of technology, I have become lazy in memorizing phone numbers.  The only one I can remember is work and church.

Daisy enjoyed the extra time outside.  She got to greet all the neighbors as they left for work this morning.

While waiting for the locksmith service to call me back and let me know who was coming, my son showed up.  He looked at us quizzically.  Unlocked the door, grabbed something he needed for work and left.  I called the service back and cancelled the order for the locksmith.

I kept telling myself while we were waiting with the neighbor that I wish God would find a way to bring Nate back for some reason so that we didn’t have to spend the $200+ for the locksmith.  He answered.  I am so grateful and appreciative.

It did make me realize two things.

1. Put a spare house key on the car keys.
2.  My husband’s illness is progressing to where he is unable to think actions all the way through.  He would have never let that happen 5 years ago, or even a year ago.  He would have taken his own keys.  He used to remember that I keep my keys separate in case I lose them.  He thought the process through to go to the car, he just didn’t think about me not having keys or making sure he could get back in.  His focus was on what was in the car.

So, where do we go from here.  I guess I will make sure a close friend has a spare key to the apartment, memorize her phone number and try to not carry so much stuff to the dumpster that I can’t carry my cell phone.

Today was just a reminder that God has my best interests at all times.

I found out Wednesday about some interesting news.  The landlord has to raise the rent starting in January.  Now, don’t panic.  I have been expecting this.  I knew in my heart that it wouldn’t happen unless we could afford it.

You see, what I didn’t know is that our landlord is not really our landlord, but his son.  So, when my husband became ill and we had problems paying, he took the heat from his father because he liked us.  Then when we got really behind and couldn’t pay until the tax return came in, he took more heat from his dad.  But, we always paid and never caused problems.  His dad has been pressuring him for two years now to raise our rent.  In fact, I remember him mentioning that he would have to raise it several months ago.  So, he finally told my husband Wednesday that he felt really horrible, but that his dad wants $1200.  But, he then told Eliud that his dad will have to deal with $1100 because he is the one who does all the running around for him.  I texted him Wednesday night that I was okay with the rent increase and not to worry.  I didn’t want him thinking I was mad or upset about the increase when he should be worrying about his family and the storm.

My take on this….Amazing that his dad wanted to raise our rent or kick us out six years ago when this tribulation in my life began with my husband.  I see that God used our landlord as a buffer between us and his dad.  How incredible that God worked through him to protect us.  Even now He is still protecting us.

I know that down the road in the next two-five years we are going to have to move due to my health.  I also believe that God will provide just the right place for us at that time.

While my husband was sharing this conversation with me, I just wanted give thanks to God.  Only He could have worked this way in another’s heart.

Every Sunday I wonder if I will cop out and let my pillow talk me into staying at home instead of going to Church or working the food pantry.  Every Sunday I get up, get dressed and go to Church and then work the food pantry.

There is just something about going to church that completes me.  I try to listen to the sermons, but I will admit that my mind is sometimes somewhere else.

Regarding the food pantry.  I go because I need help to feed my family.  Secondly, because the work is physical, it is nice to help doing something I can do in my current state of health failure.

I was praying for the food pantry on Wednesday and I kept having this slogan go through my mind…..Training today’s youth to be tomorrow’s Life Changers.  I couldn’t sleep, I knew I had to tell the director of the food pantry.  Once I told her, a peace came over me and I was able to sleep.

Then there was today.   We happened to finish early due to new servicing protocol.  So, the director and I were talking.  I got her caught up on the family news, she prayed for my husband’s disability to be approved this year and then she asked me what I thought about this year for the pantry.  I got a weird feeling down in my core of my bones, looked her straight in the face and told her that I truly felt that God would have her at a different location by the end of the year.  She smiled and said I was the 5th person to tell her that since the new year.  I told her that God was going to make it happen.  She asked how I knew,  I just told her I felt it in my bones.  How does one explain what God whispers to their inner being?

My words to you my friend, is to keep up reading the Bible on daily basis.  Eventually God will talk to you through it.  Keep going to church even when you  don’t want to.  You may make someone’s day.  In fact, you may make your day a whole bunch better.

Finally, pray.  Talk, yell, scream, cry.  God doesn’t care.  He is always listening.  But, remember, He speaks back to us through other people and the whispers in the quiet.