Pt. Duex, or...how it kinda gets worse...
Tuesday went downhill.....you can read about Sunday and Monday here.
To continue with the saga of my week, we’ll roll right into Tuesday morning. It was one of the saddest things I’ve had to deal with in a very long time.
Tuesday 9:45 a.m. After arriving back at the stinky sewage building at 7 a.m. for staff meeting, I ran home to grab some breakfast, paperwork and checks. I needed to meet the restoration company back at the building. On the drive back, a dog—a pretty, yellow, playful Labrador-cross dog--dashed out in front of me. I slammed on the brakes, but there was nothing I could do. The owner was right there, leash in hand. He’d been running with Bruno in the field and was preparing to put Bruno back on the leash when the dog ran across 4 lanes of fairly busy traffic to greet some women with kids and jogging strollers. Then as Bruno dashed back to his owner and there was an awful, horrible thud. The dog was thrown against the curb, broken and bleeding. The kids were there watching. Terrified. So were their moms. The owner was horrified. I was trembling like a leaf. The owner tried to reassure me that it wasn’t my fault and there was nothing I could've done to avoid the dog. We bundled him into the back of my new biggerredtruck and drove him home so his owner could take him to the vet. I gave the owner my contact information and asked him to let me know. Just before I pulled away, the owner and I looked intensely into each others eyes. We were both tearing up. We just gave each other a quick, hard hug and I told him I would be praying for them. It was, weirdly, a really holy moment. I don’t think I will ever forget it. It was one of the most intense looks I've ever shared with another person. And there was so much said, without a word being spoken…Bruno died in the back seat of his owner’s car on the way to the vet. So, so sad. The owner wrote me a kind and gracious email, thanking me for my compassion and help. And was “glad to meet another Christian.” I don’t know if I was babbling, or if he picked up on it with about 40 pounds of church bulletins flying around the car since I slammed on the brakes. Heart-wrenching, anyway. And my two younger kids go to school with his kids. I just feel such grief for them.
Wednesday 2 p.m. Black toner out of the copy machine monster. I have a BIG, muy importante' mailer to get out. It should’ve gone out Tuesday. Toner delivery guy is out sick today. Copy leasing place is about 25 miles one way from my house. I picked up 2 black, a magenta and a cyan. Good thing. An hour and a half later, after getting home from rush hour, I ran out of cyan as I was finishing up, around 7 p.m. Stress, stress, stress....and Caleb needed music printed for Youth Band practice. But in the meantime….
Wednesday 4:45 p.m. Tyler calls me…his brand new (to him) car was broken into. They stole his nice backpack, a NintendoDS + games, iPod, work uniform, $$$hure headphones and lots of other stuff…to the tune of about $900. Called insurance. Since it was personal property, we will have to file under our homeowner’s insurance. I’ve been insured with “Province Ranch” since 1975, when I got my first license. According to my agent, we have had 4 claims since 1994. One a shed fire in 1988, one the big dining room roof collapse last year. One lightening strike about 5 years ago…I don’t remember the other one…? If we file for this there is “a 90% chance that they will drop our policy.” Ninety. Percent. They will drop us?!? After almost 35 years. I’ve called another company for a quote to move everything over. I think that loyalty should count for something. And on top of homeowner's, we insure 5...yes, FIVE, vehicles with them and I carry my bond with them as well. We shall see what we shall see….
But, through all this, I’ve been able to see it for what it is: an attack from the enemy. I won’t even dignify enemy with a capital letter. I've seen examples of God's protection and providence. I’ve had amazing prayer support from friends and the opportunity to reach out and show compassion and joy and the love of Jesus to quite a few people. And have even stepped out of my comfort zone to do it. I am a warrior princess, a daughter of the King and MY God will prevail! Even though the devil may have meant this for evil, God is able to take it and turn it to good. God is truly good. All the time. He is good.
So, that’s it so far. I am trying hard, very hard to remember the words in James 1:2-3. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.”
In the meantime, please keep me and mine in your prayers. Pray for our protection, pray for our hearts to be guarded and pray for peace, that passes all understanding. I believe sometimes when you are under attack like this, it means that you’re doing something right…something that has captured Satan’s attention. He is subtle and insidious. He may not choose to destroy with a huge catastrophe, but rather throw darts and arrows until we’re so distracted that we take our eyes off Jesus, and falter. Or fall. Or just give up. I will persevere. God will prevail. And the Hee-Haw gang may write another verse to their song.
To continue with the saga of my week, we’ll roll right into Tuesday morning. It was one of the saddest things I’ve had to deal with in a very long time.
Tuesday 9:45 a.m. After arriving back at the stinky sewage building at 7 a.m. for staff meeting, I ran home to grab some breakfast, paperwork and checks. I needed to meet the restoration company back at the building. On the drive back, a dog—a pretty, yellow, playful Labrador-cross dog--dashed out in front of me. I slammed on the brakes, but there was nothing I could do. The owner was right there, leash in hand. He’d been running with Bruno in the field and was preparing to put Bruno back on the leash when the dog ran across 4 lanes of fairly busy traffic to greet some women with kids and jogging strollers. Then as Bruno dashed back to his owner and there was an awful, horrible thud. The dog was thrown against the curb, broken and bleeding. The kids were there watching. Terrified. So were their moms. The owner was horrified. I was trembling like a leaf. The owner tried to reassure me that it wasn’t my fault and there was nothing I could've done to avoid the dog. We bundled him into the back of my new biggerredtruck and drove him home so his owner could take him to the vet. I gave the owner my contact information and asked him to let me know. Just before I pulled away, the owner and I looked intensely into each others eyes. We were both tearing up. We just gave each other a quick, hard hug and I told him I would be praying for them. It was, weirdly, a really holy moment. I don’t think I will ever forget it. It was one of the most intense looks I've ever shared with another person. And there was so much said, without a word being spoken…Bruno died in the back seat of his owner’s car on the way to the vet. So, so sad. The owner wrote me a kind and gracious email, thanking me for my compassion and help. And was “glad to meet another Christian.” I don’t know if I was babbling, or if he picked up on it with about 40 pounds of church bulletins flying around the car since I slammed on the brakes. Heart-wrenching, anyway. And my two younger kids go to school with his kids. I just feel such grief for them.
Wednesday 2 p.m. Black toner out of the copy machine monster. I have a BIG, muy importante' mailer to get out. It should’ve gone out Tuesday. Toner delivery guy is out sick today. Copy leasing place is about 25 miles one way from my house. I picked up 2 black, a magenta and a cyan. Good thing. An hour and a half later, after getting home from rush hour, I ran out of cyan as I was finishing up, around 7 p.m. Stress, stress, stress....and Caleb needed music printed for Youth Band practice. But in the meantime….
Wednesday 4:45 p.m. Tyler calls me…his brand new (to him) car was broken into. They stole his nice backpack, a NintendoDS + games, iPod, work uniform, $$$hure headphones and lots of other stuff…to the tune of about $900. Called insurance. Since it was personal property, we will have to file under our homeowner’s insurance. I’ve been insured with “Province Ranch” since 1975, when I got my first license. According to my agent, we have had 4 claims since 1994. One a shed fire in 1988, one the big dining room roof collapse last year. One lightening strike about 5 years ago…I don’t remember the other one…? If we file for this there is “a 90% chance that they will drop our policy.” Ninety. Percent. They will drop us?!? After almost 35 years. I’ve called another company for a quote to move everything over. I think that loyalty should count for something. And on top of homeowner's, we insure 5...yes, FIVE, vehicles with them and I carry my bond with them as well. We shall see what we shall see….
But, through all this, I’ve been able to see it for what it is: an attack from the enemy. I won’t even dignify enemy with a capital letter. I've seen examples of God's protection and providence. I’ve had amazing prayer support from friends and the opportunity to reach out and show compassion and joy and the love of Jesus to quite a few people. And have even stepped out of my comfort zone to do it. I am a warrior princess, a daughter of the King and MY God will prevail! Even though the devil may have meant this for evil, God is able to take it and turn it to good. God is truly good. All the time. He is good.
So, that’s it so far. I am trying hard, very hard to remember the words in James 1:2-3. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.”
In the meantime, please keep me and mine in your prayers. Pray for our protection, pray for our hearts to be guarded and pray for peace, that passes all understanding. I believe sometimes when you are under attack like this, it means that you’re doing something right…something that has captured Satan’s attention. He is subtle and insidious. He may not choose to destroy with a huge catastrophe, but rather throw darts and arrows until we’re so distracted that we take our eyes off Jesus, and falter. Or fall. Or just give up. I will persevere. God will prevail. And the Hee-Haw gang may write another verse to their song.
Comments
Yes that insurance company should look at loyalty. Geez you pay buucoo bucks for insurance but you're never supposed to use it.
Praying that this week is better.
Much love to you!