This past weekend I got the privileged to make a trip out to Indiana to help some relatives move (The Stuckey's). The weekend prior, my dad drove grandma Baurer out there, and then returned her car to the Schlip's house (where I am living). Then last Thursday, I drove grandma's car to work, and then left work to head out to Indiana (~5 hours on the road).
I was planning to meet someone a little over an hour into the trip (near Kankakee IL) to sell my scrapbooking papers. We had agreed on a price of $140 for all 550 sheets. A little over half an hour into the trip I checked my phone and noticed a text and Facebook message from the lady I was meeting. She explained through the message that she decided to calculate it out that day and concluded that she wouldn't pay any more than $40. She was asking if that still was okay with me and if she should still plan to meet me or not. I didn't feel that I could reply right away and not act on emotions. So I drove a while, asking God about it, and then I pulled off to the side of the road and poured it out to God. It was really frustrating. My initial reaction was to back off and not sell it to her because she backed out on our agreement. Though, $40 was still more than I had paid for the whole lot, even if it was worth over $300. I was really frustrated and upset at this lady, yet God kept challenging me with several thoughts. First, I kept hearing over and over in my head, 'Do unto other's as you want done to you'. I knew deep down that If it was flip flopped I'd still hope and pray they seller would give me such a great deal on them. I also kept hearing, forgive her. That was a little harder. But through time, God brought me to the place where I could forgive her. I was reminded of the clip in the movie The Shack, where Papa tells the main character, you may have to say "I forgive you" a thousand times before it gets any easier, but it will. I was challenged with that, so I kept repeating it, working it down into my heart. I forgive you. Knowing that I still needed to reply to the lady, I messaged her back. God helped me word it, having me rewrite the message several times to not be pushing blame on her. I told her that it was really frustrating that she broke her agreement, though I do forgive her. I also told her that I would take $40 for them. Then I got back on the road and drove on, filled with peace from God. She messaged back and said that if I felt that frustrated then I should look for someone else to sell them to. She wasn't going to buy them. I was sad that it didn't work out, but I was also thrilled that God allowed me to go through that and how He worked such peace, love and life in me through it.
I continued on my journey. I arrived at the Stuckey home around 11:30pm Eastern Standard Time (I left work a little after 5:00pm Central Standard Time). When I laid down on my bed, it felt amazing - It was so comfortable! God blesses me so.
The next day, Grandma, Aunt Cindy, and myself got to work (as Cindy and grandma had been doing much of the past week - plus cleaning) packing. We loaded boxes into a van and took them to Salvation Army, and then more and more loads over to the new house (about 10 or so minutes away). That occupied most of the day. It was a great day, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Saturday, was the furniture. My cousins, Justin and Caleb, joined in as they were off work, and we moved tons of furniture from the old house to the new house. A friend had brought over her sheep trailer and we hauled load and loads of furniture all day. It was a lot of heavy lifting and Tetris-like thinking. Again it was a lot of fun. After the day of loading, unloading, re-hydrating and eating, we finished out aim for the day. Justin, Caleb, and I sat down at the new house and played a great number of rounds of cards. We played Fair Weather/Don't Get Cocky. For the first handful of rounds we played the normal ways, but over time we decided to start adding rules. We got to the point where we added a new rule almost every round, and they really made your mind have to think hard. Yet it was soo much fun. It was like a combination of Fair Weather/Don't Get Cocky and Mouw.
Saturday night (and Sunday night), grandma and I stayed at the old house, while the Stuckey's slept at their new house. Sunday Cindy, Roland (my uncle), Grandma, and I headed to Broadway Church - which was amazing, to no surprise. Sunday afternoon we rested. Caleb and I started a wonderful game of ERS (Egyptian Rat Slap - or as some call it, Emergency Room Situation (because someone usually gets hurt)) in the living room. However, out slapping grew too lowed and we were relocated to the basement. We decided to play on the kitchen counter top in the basement - which concluded to still be quite loud - though it was a ton of fun! After a while, we came up and talked with everyone who was up. Then Justin, Caleb and I headed out for a park about 5 or so minutes away and went swimming in a small pond - which was quite warm. Sunday evening, for Father's Day, we went to Cracker Barrel for supper - quite late in the evening. We had some good conversations and good food too. After returning to the new house, grandma and I said our goodbye's and headed back to the old house for the night.
Monday morning, Grandma and I left shortly after 8:00am heading back to Illinois. We had great travel time without much traffic. We made it back before noon Central time. Overall, it was such a great weekend!!
I was planning to meet someone a little over an hour into the trip (near Kankakee IL) to sell my scrapbooking papers. We had agreed on a price of $140 for all 550 sheets. A little over half an hour into the trip I checked my phone and noticed a text and Facebook message from the lady I was meeting. She explained through the message that she decided to calculate it out that day and concluded that she wouldn't pay any more than $40. She was asking if that still was okay with me and if she should still plan to meet me or not. I didn't feel that I could reply right away and not act on emotions. So I drove a while, asking God about it, and then I pulled off to the side of the road and poured it out to God. It was really frustrating. My initial reaction was to back off and not sell it to her because she backed out on our agreement. Though, $40 was still more than I had paid for the whole lot, even if it was worth over $300. I was really frustrated and upset at this lady, yet God kept challenging me with several thoughts. First, I kept hearing over and over in my head, 'Do unto other's as you want done to you'. I knew deep down that If it was flip flopped I'd still hope and pray they seller would give me such a great deal on them. I also kept hearing, forgive her. That was a little harder. But through time, God brought me to the place where I could forgive her. I was reminded of the clip in the movie The Shack, where Papa tells the main character, you may have to say "I forgive you" a thousand times before it gets any easier, but it will. I was challenged with that, so I kept repeating it, working it down into my heart. I forgive you. Knowing that I still needed to reply to the lady, I messaged her back. God helped me word it, having me rewrite the message several times to not be pushing blame on her. I told her that it was really frustrating that she broke her agreement, though I do forgive her. I also told her that I would take $40 for them. Then I got back on the road and drove on, filled with peace from God. She messaged back and said that if I felt that frustrated then I should look for someone else to sell them to. She wasn't going to buy them. I was sad that it didn't work out, but I was also thrilled that God allowed me to go through that and how He worked such peace, love and life in me through it.
I continued on my journey. I arrived at the Stuckey home around 11:30pm Eastern Standard Time (I left work a little after 5:00pm Central Standard Time). When I laid down on my bed, it felt amazing - It was so comfortable! God blesses me so.
The next day, Grandma, Aunt Cindy, and myself got to work (as Cindy and grandma had been doing much of the past week - plus cleaning) packing. We loaded boxes into a van and took them to Salvation Army, and then more and more loads over to the new house (about 10 or so minutes away). That occupied most of the day. It was a great day, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Saturday, was the furniture. My cousins, Justin and Caleb, joined in as they were off work, and we moved tons of furniture from the old house to the new house. A friend had brought over her sheep trailer and we hauled load and loads of furniture all day. It was a lot of heavy lifting and Tetris-like thinking. Again it was a lot of fun. After the day of loading, unloading, re-hydrating and eating, we finished out aim for the day. Justin, Caleb, and I sat down at the new house and played a great number of rounds of cards. We played Fair Weather/Don't Get Cocky. For the first handful of rounds we played the normal ways, but over time we decided to start adding rules. We got to the point where we added a new rule almost every round, and they really made your mind have to think hard. Yet it was soo much fun. It was like a combination of Fair Weather/Don't Get Cocky and Mouw.
Saturday night (and Sunday night), grandma and I stayed at the old house, while the Stuckey's slept at their new house. Sunday Cindy, Roland (my uncle), Grandma, and I headed to Broadway Church - which was amazing, to no surprise. Sunday afternoon we rested. Caleb and I started a wonderful game of ERS (Egyptian Rat Slap - or as some call it, Emergency Room Situation (because someone usually gets hurt)) in the living room. However, out slapping grew too lowed and we were relocated to the basement. We decided to play on the kitchen counter top in the basement - which concluded to still be quite loud - though it was a ton of fun! After a while, we came up and talked with everyone who was up. Then Justin, Caleb and I headed out for a park about 5 or so minutes away and went swimming in a small pond - which was quite warm. Sunday evening, for Father's Day, we went to Cracker Barrel for supper - quite late in the evening. We had some good conversations and good food too. After returning to the new house, grandma and I said our goodbye's and headed back to the old house for the night.
Monday morning, Grandma and I left shortly after 8:00am heading back to Illinois. We had great travel time without much traffic. We made it back before noon Central time. Overall, it was such a great weekend!!
Thank you sooooo much for all your great help!!! And all the encouragement and prayers!!! It was really really good having you here!
ReplyDelete