A renewal of faith

Last week, I was in the throes of a real crisis. Hubby & I had done some intense study of our budget and our dwindling savings account, and realized that some choices would soon have to be made. We set a deadline by which hubby would have to have a job, or I would have to go back to my former employer and reapply for my old job: the job I had before I left the workforce to stay at home with our children. Thankfully, that deadline has passed us by without much fanfare, since hubby's now employed. (More details on the job later.)

But last week, as I was giving God a good talking-to about how this was just! not! fair!, about how I try to be a good and faithful servant of Christ, about how I scrimp and save and stretch every penny, about how very very important my children are to me, God sent me a little telegram, restoring my faith.

• My wonderful playgroup friends starting bringing us meals. The meals were fantastic, and we were (and are) very thankful for them. Just as important, though, is that sense of community that goes with someone bringing you food. I know how busy each of these women is. But each mom took the time to make a meal for my family, for my husband and children and me. And I am so grateful.
• Our neighbor Mike (gosh, he's really a great guy!) fixed our mower with spare parts from his old mower. He found out that my husband's mower was broken, came over to our house, got our broken mower, and repaired it with parts from his old mower. (Keep in mind that hubby has a fledgling lawncare business that's been bringing in a bit of extra and much-needed income. No mower=no money.) AND THEN, Mike called his nephew (who just so happens to be the deacon at our church), who came over and made sure that we were doing all right.
• A dear friend gave us a very generous and unexpected gift, with no option to refuse his/her generosity. It was the kind of gift that makes you stop in your tracks, without the words sufficient to express your gratitude. Really, what do you say to someone who is so generous, who just says, "You need to stay home with your children"? "Thanks" seems like such a trite, pithy little word to say. But what else can you say? I hope someday I'll be able to pay it forward.

Yes, the Almighty made me bow my head again, and be thankful for my blessings. He is teaching me that I can depend on His generosity, shown to me over and over by the wonderful people He puts in my path.

If God so clothes the grass in the field that grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? As for you, do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not worry anymore.

Luke 12:28-29

So for now, I'm able to stay home and be a mother to that adorable little girl at the top of this post. And I'm going to try to stop worrying.