A riveting weekend at the T. Beucail household. On Friday, as my wife was driving back from a last day of school swim party with the kids, the van started making a noise. She called me, indicating it was coming from the transmission - then the horrible grinding noise started, and she said she called me back.
Two mechanics later, it's a new transmission. Now here's the surprising thing - in this whole thing, I see the blessings and hand of God:
1) When she came to a halt, she was at the exit to our house off the interstate. It could have happened 10 miles away.
2) I was at work, and the tow truck only had room for two adults. She was able to call a friend, who was able to come over and get her and the kids - because fortuitiously, her husband was home, so she could leave the kids.
3) We wanted to have it towed to our mechanic, but she didn't think she had her wallet. As she was getting out of the van, her wallet dropped out of the van.
4) I was able to leave work immediately and come home, allowing her to be able to go do her home show.
5) Our mechanic called with honesty - it was beyond his shop -but didn't charge us for it.
6) We have a third vehicle - a 1987 Ford Ranger. It's not pretty and gets poor gas mileage, but it did allow her to have a vehicle which will fit her and the kids and get them around town.
7) On Monday, I was able to come into work late and take care of the care.
8) The mechanic called with an estimate at least $1,000 beneath what it could have been.
9) I have to rearrange, but we have the money to pay for it.
10) Our other car, the Fabulous Ford Escort (1991) can also fit all of us.
Again, no one wants to pay $2100 for a new transmission - but if I look at the thankfuls, how can I be anything but thankful to God?
Thanks. You are probably correct, although the pace of change often seems glacially slow, and is not in the noticeable ways which one associates with "change".
ReplyDeleteIf I accept the premise that the Word of God is living and sharper than a two edged sword (which I do), and that God's word never returns void, but accomplishes its purpose (which, again, I do), then I suppose I should be surprised if I am changing through applying God's word (in this case, giving thanks in all circumstances, as weakly as I often seem to be able to do). I'll have to mull this over a bit....