Beans and Beef

Sat down to a dinner of two hamburger patties (no bread or rolls in the house) and some beans from a can. My first thought was how meager the meal was and how I was “suffering”. My next thought was to laugh at myself, realizing that my meal is a veritable king’s feast to much of the world’s population.

I also had some chocolate pudding, from those inexpensive box mixes, that I had made up a few days ago. Not exactly starving here.

The can of beans came from the church pantry months ago, along with the pudding box. I am thankful for these gifts and thankful that I have an abundance, for all that I seem to lack compared to my American neighbors, including my fellow church members. The verse that comes to mind is the one about being content with food and clothing:

Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it.  So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.

 But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:6-10 NLT (Bold print added)

I’m selling household items to prepare for putting my house on the market. Once the house sells, Lord willing, I don’t have any other permanent living arrangement lined up. My mom and step-dad have, once again, graciously opened their home to me. A friend from church offered for me to stay with her, but she really doesn’t have adequate space (her heart was in the right place, though, and I am so grateful for someone offering practical help and not just throwing out a “Prayin’ for ya!”).

On the one hand, I feel at peace, knowing that our Lord, while serving on Earth in the flesh said “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.” Luke 9:58 NLT  I feel comfort knowing that the Lord can be glorified in me, with or without a house.

On the other hand, I don’t want to be a burden to anyone. I know that we are called to help our brothers and sisters in Christ, as well as all of our neighbors. It necessarily follows that if one is the helper then someone, at some point in time, has to be on the receiving end of that help; however, I dread being that person on the receiving end for an extended period of time. I don’t want to be someone else’s trial or “test of faith”.

I will, as God allows, graciously and gratefully accept help. But, I still cry to the Lord to strengthen me to once again be in a position where I may be the helper.

Recent job applications and interviews have come to a dead end so far. A client recently went back into hospice care and told me today that she no longer needs my services. She appeared sad and told me that she would write me a recommendation if I thought that would help me to find another position. I was really touched by that offer. She is weak and frail and yet she is thinking about my welfare.

I don’t know what the next few days, weeks, and months will bring. No one does. The Lord may return soon. He may call me home soon. Circumstances may improve. Circumstances may grow leaner. Whatever the case, I am thankful (though not as much as I should be) that God is teaching me to lean on Him, trust in Him, depend upon Him. All other supports have proved false. I will keep trusting in the One Who is able to do all things.

 

patricia grace


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