Lessons From Our Van Breaking Down

Last week we were returning home much later than I like to be out. Our errands had included two evening doctor appointments, shopping for football gear, and sneaking in a family dinner at our favorite pizza place. It was nearly 10 o’clock as we rounded the corner onto the road where we live. I had just checked online and found out we’d won the overall votes for the 2011 Homeschool Social Media Awards.  We were pretty excited!

Then our van died.  

We were only about 2 miles from home.  It was too far and too dark for us to walk. Woe-is-me feelings tried to invade.  I chose to be thankful instead.  Thus we now have a Top Ten Tuesday list.

Top Ten Lessons From Our Van Breaking Down

• We are Blessed – Even when sitting on the side of the road in a broken down van, we are living in the blessing.  I refuse to think of life in any other way.

• I have a van full of sweet babies.  They are a great gift!

• The floor was covered in bags from our shopping trip. We needed stuff, we went and bought stuff. This is not roughing it.  Even though we are a single-income-family, God is so faithful to provide.

• It could have been worse. What if I had broken down with the children on the highway? We would have been without my husband and far from home.  Our plans for the next day would have put us in that predicament.   If our van was going to break down, this was the best situation.

• It gave us another opportunity to PRAY! As my husband was under the hood inspecting our van, the children and I prayed.  A call to prayer is always a good thing.  It was so sweet to hear Naomi’s soft prayers from the back seat.

 ”Jesus, help daddy fix our van, keep us safe, help the bears stay in the woods,

in Jesus might Name.”

• My husband is our protector and provider.  I felt safe sitting there, trusting that my husband would take care of us.  I didn’t have to carry the weight of our crisis.  I cast my care on the Lord and my husband.

• God’s timing is always perfect.  I believe that His plan and His ways are perfect.  I’m surrendered to Him, so if being on the side of the road late at night is where I find myself– then I’m going to make the best of it!

• It was a chance to show faithfulness!  By the time we got home from all of our excitement it was midnight.  I thought about having to get up early to talk to a moms group about homeschooling.  I thought through my phone call to the group leader.  I would explain what had happened and why I had to cancel at the last minute. Everyone would understand. My husband encouraged me otherwise.  He reminded me not to allow the enemy to steal an open-door-opportunity to share about a lifestyle that has been such a blessing to us. I’m happy to report that I still talked with the group the next morning.  I’m thankful that I was faithful.  It was a blessed and encouraging time. {And I took a looooong drooling nap in the afternoon }

• AAA and cell phones are my friend. Being able to make one phone call and have a tow truck be on it’s way to get our vehicle is a blessing.  Since we choose to drive older vehicles, AAA is great peace-of mind.  Besides the annual fee is cheaper than a car payment!  And what a blessing having a phone in my purse.

• No weapon formed against us shall prosper!  Sitting in the middle of blessings and trails I was reminded that even though “weapons” come against us, they shall not prevail.  Our family will get through a broken down vehicle, or whatever may come our way, with Jesus!