My Proof there is a God - Part 3

When I wrote the first post with that title, I didn't really intend for it to be a continual thing.  However, life keeps happening and God keeps taking care of it.   Case in point - my husband's car has been in the shop for almost two weeks now.  He needs a new transmission which would be a huge expense for us but thankfully the shop is covering the repair... not due to warranty but due to a bunch of dishonest things they did the first time they fixed his transmission exactly two years ago.  It took several days of moving up the management chain but the financial end of the deal is finally settled.  They offered him a rental car as part of their deal but he turned it down because we had a perfectly good working car we could just share for the next few days.  That's right, I said had.

Yesterday on my lunch break (at 4pm) I was scarfing down some tacos and had my car in park but idling because it was 90 degrees out.  I was sitting there for maybe 5 minutes when my car started to shake and then lost power.  I thought "that was weird" and cranked it up again.  Almost immediately it died.  I was due back to work so I didn't really have time to mess with it but told my manager I needed a few extra minutes to make some calls and at least figure out how I was going to get home.  Called the husband who threw a few appropriate swear words around, called a mechanic friend and then another for a second opinion.  Meanwhile, my husband put out an all points bulletin on Facebook to try and find me a ride home.   By 6:30 three people had offered to pick me up.   One friend had offered to help my husband fix the problem - probably the fuel pump.  His shop is open on Monday and the car will most likely be towed there.  Yet another friend had actually taken the time to stop by my place of employment and change out the fuel pump relay to see if that would fix it.   It didn't work but helped us rule that out as the problem.  My husband was working until midnight and finding a ride home for him was probably going to be more difficult but within 30 minutes of another Facebook plea he had two offers. We have also had three people ask if we needed anything at the store to get us by the next couple of days. 

The more Don and I talked the more we saw God's timing in all of this.  Yes, it was inconvenient to be without both cars but at least school is out and the girls don't need to get back and forth.   With Don working the weekend, he's off Tuesday and Wednesday (which is when I go back to work).   We should have both cars back by then if everything goes as it should.  I'm supposed to go on a road trip in two weeks and I'm thankful this happened now instead of in the middle of I-40.

With today being Sunday I was afraid I wasn't going to make it to church but ended up with three offers for rides.   At church I was offered the chance to borrow two vehicles - both for as long as we need them this week.  By the time this afternoon rolled around, the loner truck was in our driveway and our anxiety level was much lower than it was 24 hours ago.  

This really could have been a difficult situation but thanks to everyone God put in our path, we are feeling overwhelmingly blessed and thankful.   There is still the question of how much of a financial strain my car repair will be but I'm not as apprehensive about that as I normally would be.  Seeing how the rest of this has fallen into place has reminded me that God is in control.   He's got this. 

My proof that there is a God

I don't need proof that there is a God but some days God just makes himself known loud and clear.  Friday was one of those days for me.  I'm about to change jobs and have been quite attached to three particular customers at the current store I work for.  I had been whispering prayers since I gave my two week notice that I would be able to say goodbye to those three special people.  As of Friday, two of the three had come into the store.  The third, an older woman named Sarah, only shopped once a month because her husband has Alzheimer's and she has to have a sitter for him when she leaves the house.   I knew it wasn't likely that she would come in but around 11am, there she was.   I was so glad to see her and let her know I was moving on to bigger and better things.  She said she was sad to see me go but wanted me to take her name and number so we could stay in touch.  She said she would take my info but she loses things easily.   I always see her with her pocket Hallmark calendar which she uses to keep track of which birthday cards she needs to buy that month.  I put my contact info on the back and she made me write in my birthday as well.  Sometimes God is in the smallest of things.

Later in the work day a customer came in and looked a bit lost so I asked if I could help.  She said she needed gift bags for a wedding and baby shower.   We got the wedding stuff taken care of and then as I pointed her to the baby gift bags she said, "its for my daughter... the one who wasn't supposed to be able to have kids".  Stories like that always make me smile.  We found the perfect bags and bows and I asked if she needed a card.  She thought a second and decided it would be a good idea so I led her to that area and we began trying to find just the right card.  She had one in her hand but I handed her one more to look at just to be sure.  The sentiment on the outside was beautiful but it was the inside message that sold her and brought us both to tears.   It said "God bless you as you await your little miracle".   Sometimes God is in the smallest of things.

That night I got a phone call from my husband.  We had been awaiting some news from friends who were at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.  There was a prayer service for Cat and Paul last Sunday at church.  There is a Facebook page where people can leave messages and prayers and I've received notification after notification of just that.   We were all hoping for and honestly expecting a miracle.  I could tell by my husband's voice that something was wrong.   He said "Its definitely ALS."  My heart sank for our friends... for their children... for my husband who has become quite close to Paul in the last few years.  I was saddened by what this means for their family although I hoped the definite diagnosis would bring peace to them after so many years of simply not knowing.

Later in the evening there was this post from Paul on Facebook -

What a beautiful night tonight outside, lil chilli but nice .......... And no worries everyone this won't change me, God will prevail. The ONLY thing to do keep on keeping on. Thanks to all for there prayers, they were heard and answered. God isn't done with me yet.

And today on Facebook Cat posted this - 

So...for those that don't yet know, Paul diagnosis was confirmed to be ALS. We are doing this Paul and Cat style... That is with the peace and joy of the Lord! We know there is a plan, we aren't just privy to all of it and that is fine. The JOY comes from knowing the Lord and having such living and supportive friends and family! We are too blessed too be stressed and too anointed to be disappointed!

All God asks of us is to have the faith of a mustard seed.  Cat and Paul are amazing testimonies to how when you let Him God will take care of all your needs.  All you have to do is ask and believe ... in other words, have faith.

 Yes, sometimes God is in the smallest of things.  I'm so very thankful that He is ALWAYS right there with us in the Big things too.   This is for you Cat and Paul.  We love you!!