8 years ago this month, God provided us with a lovely home in a rather miraculous way. It has been a blessing to us and to anyone else we could bring into it, and we are very thankful. The trying economy, our decreasing income, our first children heading off to college in a few years, and the expense of running this household have prompted us to (once again) place this home up for sale. We had only planned to stay here a few years, and now it has been 8. Our finances are incredibly tight, and we have been faithful to let God know that we are willing to do whatever He asks. That has caused us some dramatic cutbacks in many areas. Recently Truett asked for new cleats for baseball. He is almost out of his size 9s, and after all, the older boys wear the cleats with spikes in them instead of rubber. I told him that our budget really did not allow for new cleats until absolutely necessary, but I would continue to look for a bargain. So far, visiting Good Will and thrift stores had proved unfruitful.
Since we have taken the Dave Ramsey statement to heart,"Sell so much the kids think they're next!", we held a yard sale over the weekend. This yard sale was to help our ailing budget, but also to set aside at least half of the money for four of the kids to go to church camp this summer, and for three of them to go to Child Evangelism Traning. This training will enable them to teach 5-day Bible Clubs throughout our community the rest of the summer. While it is a wonderful mission endeavor, which equips them in ways for Christ far beyond this summer, it is over $300 per child to attend. When we opened up our yard sale on Saturday, I simply asked God to replace the grocery money I had spent this week, which was roughly $200. I labeled envelopes for each of the children to set aside the extra money for camp. Five hours later, we had nearly $600. How exciting for our family to see Him provide above and beyond what we had asked!
Even more amazing, my friend and neighbor stopped by our sale. She had picked up several things and asked what I wanted for them. She is our favorite for giving hand-me-downs, leftovers, and miscellaneous, the most recent being a dorm room refrigerator which will come in handy in another year or so. I refused money on the basis of all of the blessings she has given me! She left and a few minutes later came back with an armload of sporting equipment. Her son, she explained, had given up BASEBALL for Lacrosse, and didn't need them anymore. In addition to some uniforms (2 sizes up from Truett!) and 2 very nice gloves, guess what was in that pile? Size 9.5 cleats. With spikes. In great condition. Furthermore, as my friend was walking away, shaking the now empty duffel bag to get out the leftover dirt, she found a gold chain that her son thought had been stolen long ago! Her kindness to me revealed another blessing to her!
We have said often it will take a miracle to sell our house. I have a God in the miracle business! If he can provide baseball cleats to my son from a friend that didn't even know I needed them, then I am confident He will sell this house when He seems fit, and will be glorified all the more. How marvelous is it that our God knows exactly what we need? And even when there is guilt that we cannot provide a reasonable want to our children, He chooses to bless us with it anyway? I have a faith that is so very small! I am thankful that God loves me in spite of it. And loves me enough to provide my son with baseball cleats, in just the right size. I hope my faith continues to grow to be just the right size, too.
