“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” – Acts 20:35 (NIV)
I enjoy mowing our yards. We used to have someone come over and did it for us until I told my husband I truly enjoyed doing that. That was my exercise in a way! He cautioned me so as not to hurt my neck (I had an old injury) and he would rather do the chore but I insisted, telling him that as long as I wouldn’t carry heavy things, I was only pushing the mower, not carry it, so my neck should be fine.
At times that my husband is so busy at work like this past week where they have been concentrating on arresting criminals, I want to do that for him knowing how he is. Despite his exhaustion, he never complains about doing some of the household chores, including mowing the yards.
So, this morning, there I was on a beautiful sunny day mowing the front yard first. I was almost done when a man parked his truck across the street and slowly approached me. Working in the prison, I learned how to be wary at all times so though I wasn’t looking up, I could sense his presence coming toward where I was and prepared myself for whatever that man would do or say. Until…I saw his shadow right in front of me and then, I looked up.
 |
| the flyer from the man |
I looked back at what I had mowed, looked ahead at the areas I still needed to do while avoiding the palm trees and other things I shouldn’t touch. I started the engine and with remaining strength, I pushed the mower and finished the whole yard.
“Thank You, Lord for giving me the strength to finish my mowing the lawn,” I prayed quietly.
As I rested and the thought of my on-going battle at work came to mind, people there had tried desperately to intimidate me and boldly had shown me their power to scare me and hoped that I would quit my job as a Correctional Nurse. I looked back at those times and knew that it was all a part of His plan, not theirs. I still didn’t have a clue on what lies ahead but it was His hand that quickly reached out to me at that time of need and any other needs. He provided me the strength that I would need to learn how to endure, be patient, and most of all, to continue to love despite the hate, the rejection, and other hurtful devices these people put in my way.
"Thank You, Lord for the strength You give me as I patiently wait for You...
And like my mowing to help out my hard-working husband can be my service to God, so it is with God making me a nurse in the prison to help the inmates and the staff's needs as well...I am not done. I will mow week after weeks, and my job as a Correctional Nurse is still not completely over because I will still work there for as long as He wants me to.I just pray that God will help me discern those circumstances or the people He puts in my path as my opportunity to serve. For Him...
I took a gulp of cold water and folded away the green flyer. I knew…I wouldn’t need that. For a very long time…
 | |||
| the yard after I mowed it |
May this song inspire each of us to not be weary in doing good...("And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." - Galatians 6:9)
In My Own Little World (Matthew West)
Lyrics:
In my own little world it hardly ever rains
I've never gone hungry or always felt safe
I got some money in my pocket shoes on my feet
In my own little world, population: me
I try to stay awake through the Sunday morning church
I throw a twenty in the plate but I never give 'til it hurts
and I turn off the news when I don't like what I see
it's easy to do when it's population: me
What if there's a bigger picture
what if I'm missing out
What if there's a greater purpose
I could be living right now
outside my own little world
Stopped at the red light, looked out my window
Outside the car, saw a sign, said "Help this homeless widow"
Just above this sign was the face of a human
I thought to myself, "God, what have I been doing?"
So I rolled down my window and I looked her in the eye
Oh how many times have I just passed her by
I gave her some money then I drove on through
in my own little world there's population: two
What if there's a bigger picture
what if I'm missing out
What if there's a greater purpose
I could be living right now
outside my own little world
Start breaking my heart for what breaks Yours
give me open hands and open doors
put Your light in my eyes and let me see
that my own little world is not about me
Rosel, you are right we are here to finish out what God has for each of us. He still wants you as a Correctional Nurse there. You have always been an inspiration to me. Helps me a lot. Blessings my dear. Oh, glad you enjoyed your mowing.
ReplyDeleteHi Rcubes -
ReplyDeleteThank you. I enjoyed this read. In particular, I precisely needed this that you expressed, "...that it was all a part of His plan, not theirs."
I so appreciate how our Lord uses us to advance His kingdom and to help one another.
You are so right my friend.
ReplyDeletewhat a story and lesson...thanks!!
ReplyDeleteand BTW...I like to mow the grass too!!
Our God loves orderliness. You have done that with HIS lawn. It is pleasing to view, by you, by us, by HIM.
ReplyDeleteYour opening Bible verse was also pleasing...to ME. My mind cascaded to a similar event. I like to mow the lawn.
I like the look, the smell, the feel of cut grass.
When my girls were little and I a single parent, I needed a place to stay desperately. A friend of mine notified me she found a place for me at her company in-house newspaper, for employees. The rental had to be in the school district, or custody battles ensued with a move....again. My daughters loved the place for the yard was huge for tumbling exercises and outdoor play. The lawn was huge to mow.
The owner, who placed the ad for rent, was retired, and lived next door on my right. He was not a nice man. We learned to stay on our property, never on his, avoid hello or goodbye, and plain old MIND YOUR BUSINESS. Rent was paid on time always. Part of my lease required I mow the lawn. No problem.
Each time I did, I noticed the old woman to my left, with a fully fenced in yard, had grass at least 6 inches tall. It was coming through the fence.
The day was beautiful, my lawn was mowed, and without a word, I mowed her front, sides, and opened her gate to a huge yard. That was mowed too.
She came out the front door. Walked up to me and took my hand in hers and simply said: "I am grateful. Thank you."
We talked a bit, as I never saw visitors to her home. Words were precious to her.
Thereafter, each time I mowed my lawn, I mowed hers. Afterwards, the same Thank You format and words about life continued.
But my landlord came and banged the door. He asked me to come out. I did. He pointed to the lawn and said I did not mow it all.
There was no marker, and he wanted me to mow another INCH into his yard. To keep him happy, I got the mower out and mowed an inch all the way down the lot.
Meanwhile, I notified him the roof was leaking when it rained. Please fix that.
Every time I mowed my lawn area, I mowed the old woman's yard too, and always got a complaint from the landlord I mowed an inch too MUCH or an inch too LITTLE, do it more.
I used these times to tell him the rain was ruining his ceiling. The roof needs fixed. Indeed, a bucket of tar was ON the roof, and just needed applied.
He yelled at where I parked the car...on the road! He yelled about anything and everything.
My daughter was upset one day and said :
"Dad, all my clothes in the closet are wet. I don't have anything for school.". The dryer fixed that, she missed the bus, but I drove her to school in dry clothes.
I spoke to the landlord of this event and he shrugged.
Then, I was notified by Sheriff I had to move. This was impossible. I had a lease, I paid the rent. It made no sense.
I must avoid moving for stability for the kids, and no reason for renewed custody battle appear on the horizon.
In the legal arena, at being kicked out, my landlord claimed I never mowed the lawn and he was tired of it always being so much taller than his lawn.
This was all in the Sheriff's paperwork, along with when to go to the District magistrate and duke it out.
The old lady saw the Sheriff car and came out to talk. She asked me if everything was okay. I showed her the paperwork. She read it all, and remained quiet.
Continued.......
In court, my landlord lied and insisted I broke the lease by not mowing at all and leaving HIS property looking terrible. He went on and on.
ReplyDeleteThe Magistrate asked me why I refused to mow the lawn as required in the lease.
I opened a letter to read in court. It was written in old lady cursive, but easy for a heart to read.
She spoke of her neighbor (ME) mowing the lawn every week, and on top of mowing all of my lawn perfectly, also always mowed HER lawn every week, never once being asked to do so. She wrote she had no money to pay, no family to help, and the lawn usually just grew too tall every year. But this year, it had been mowed free, and by the single parent who lived next door (me). In one letter, my landlord was exposed as a liar to the community. I had not even requested this letter.
I also asked the magistrate to have my roof fixed as my daughter's closet had wet clothes often. It did not go well for my landlord.
I had been looking around in the meantime for another place, as neighbor wars was no way to bring up happy children.
It was impossible to find anyplace to move, in an expensive area of town, but that is where the school was and we had to be in the district.
My daughter prayed earnestly for a new home.
Her prayer was answered in such a miraculous way, I must save that as a future story here.
When we moved, the truth came out.
The landlord's wife had cancer.
He wanted me out, but I had a lease. He wanted his son to move in my home and take care of the cancer wife/mom.
All he had to do was tell me that, and I would long ago have looked around, lease or No lease.
And, ...it explained why he would not repair the roof. It was not harassment to me, he was buying a new prefab for his son to live in a new home next door to him...my spot. Why fix it if you are tearing it down?
But I told my girls to remember how we came about finding this spot.
God was in the mix moving us there.
The old woman next door was HIS voice of truth.
They learned about God when we lived at that house.
They learned even more at the next one. Another day.
Mowing that lady's lawn was truly sacrificial on your part. But how neat that in the end as your problem unfolded with your landlord, God used that woman to expose the truth! Your story encourages me & confirms how the Lord truly works in mysterious ways. Even through tough times. What's hard for Him to do anyway? I'm sure that landlord learned a big lesson. Well, everyone did but how awesome for your daughters to witness His faithfulness to those who love Him and trust in Him. Thank you for sharing this story but I pray you won't forget the others because it's all about Him...God bless.
DeleteStories soon, as they are stunningly filled with the breath of God.....been sick, and at the doc.
DeleteBloodwork galore. I go back again for all in April. Not well. Two docs concerned. God is not either of them. :-D
~~~Keystone
Sorry to hear you're not feeling well. Praying for your physical healing. God bless & protect you.
DeleteYour grass really looks pretty. I know that you are a blessing to others where you work. Thanks for sharing that song. God bless you, Dear. Blessings ~
ReplyDeletelove that tree trunk!!! He does give incredible strength and even when I feel weak.....I am strong. Have a beautiful day out there.
ReplyDeleteI miss being able to do yard work ...but I am thankful for what I can do and I know there is still a purpose for my life...just not the yard work.:)
ReplyDeleteYou did a neat job! For a 90 year old woman, I am proud of all that strength you mustered up. I see lots of strength in the spirit, too! Love you.
ReplyDelete