Too Proud to Beg

Following my workout with a friend this afternoon, I decided to postpone lunch and a shower to run some quick errands right down the road.  I had to go to the bank and then to the CVS both of which are within a one mile radius of our home.

After finishing up at the bank, I hopped into my car and put the key into the ignition to start the engine...well, at least that was my plan.  My car had other plans.  I could get the key into the ignition, but I couldn't get it to turn forward. 

This same thing had happened to me in the past and I was never really sure why it happened.  But I wasn't too worried because eventually the key would always turn and I would head on my merry way.  So I tried a couple of times in a row like usual, but still could not get it to turn.  I prayed, I praised God that at least I had a car and at least this predicament was only car trouble not sickness or marital issues.  I called Ross and left him a message asking him to pray for me.  I tried again, still nothing.

It was hot and my windows were in the up position. I decided to go for a walk thinking I would be cooler this way and it would give the car some time to straighten itself out.  During my walk I saw two police officers in their cars sitting side-by-side at the adjoining convenience store.  Then I saw two former members of my church riding turning into the convenience store their motorcycle.  I waved hello and they waved back.  I also found a penny and picked it up (see earlier post) I circled back to my vehicle after the walk and tried to start it up.  Still stuck!

I thought about the two police officers.  I didn't want to ask them for help for two reasons.  1) I thought that they may not know what to do and have me call AAA or 2) They may come over to the car only for it to start up and me to feel stupid.  But nothing was working and it was very hot so I decided to walk up and talk to them.  On the way over, a AAA truck pulled up to the gas pump.  I was half way over to the policeman and thought again about what I should do.  'If I go to the AAA guy, he's probably going to tell me that I have to call in my request so that it's official.  And he'll probably be all grouchy for me taking him away from what he's doing.'  I slowed my steps in the direction of the officers, 'But the AAA guy knows all about vehicles and if is available he can best help me with my problem.'  I did a 180 and started back towards the tow truck that I had passed.

"Excuse me," I timidly spoke, "I can't get my key to turn in the ignition.  I do have triple A but I wasn't sure if I needed to call it in or if you can just help me."
"Sure, I can help.  Where's your vehicle?"
I point out my vehicle still in the bank parking lot.
"I'll be right over."

For the sake of time and condensing this post I'll sum everything up to say that he served me with a great attitude, got my key to turn, and told me why it keeps happening to me.  Now I know what to do when I have this problem in the future.  It made me think about what my pastor preaches about so often--God sends help our way, but we don't like who He sends it through so instead we just make up our minds to suffer.  God sent two policemen, two friends, and a AAA truck to help me with my car trouble...he also sent the trouble to reveal to me my sin of pride.

Dusting Up on My Discipline

Today as I went about cleaning our bedroom, the gray fuzzy coating over top of our dresser drawers spelled it out pretty clearly.  It was time for a dusting.  I got the rag and dusting can out from under the kitchen sink and trudged back up the steps.  This is my least favorite chore.

I shook the can, sprayed the rag and then put the can down on the dresser.  The tinny sound that I heard when I placed it down confirmed what I thought to be true.  I was almost out of spray.



The reason this is significant is because I have never had to buy dusting spray for over 13 years--the length of time that Ross and I have been married.  When we first married my co-workers bought us a basket full of cleaning supplies that included about 6 institutional-sized bottles of Pledge.  Combine this with the fact that I am not an avid duster and suffice it to say that we've been covered all these years.

I feel like dusting is one of those things that you can do regularly if you want to, but if you don't who's really going to know?  Especially in my bedroom.  But when I stop and think about it, my husband sees the bedroom.  He would know.  And not dusting shows him that I don't care about him, especially since he has allergies.

This thought reminded me of the discipline of reading God's word regularly.  I often fool myself into thinking that I don't need His word everyday.  If I still look good on the outside, who's really going to know that I'm dusty on the inside.  The answer is that God knows.  And not reading his word shows Him that I don't care about Him, especially since He wrote it for me.

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.  Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.  This scripture is in the Bible and speaks to what I have just written.  I'll leave it to you to go get your Bible, dust it off, and find out where the verse is.