Today has been an up and down day for me. I woke up just before my alarm went off this morning to the sound of a bunch of marbles falling from Johnny's bed to the floor, or so I thought. When I went into the boys' room to wake them up, I realized there wasn't any debris on the floor, and immediately knew it was something else. I opened the front door, and sure enough, the passenger side window on my car had been shattered. I knew without looking that my purse had been stolen. Car locked, porch light on, alarm set, parked near my front door, and still, we'd been robbed.
I called the sheriff and began making the string of calls necessary to cancel credit cards and my ATM card, stopping payment on checks, ordering replacement everything. Kelly was leaving for youth conference this morning, so we had to arrange alternate transportation for her to be able to leave on time. In my wallet, critical receipts for medical expenses, cash for food/clothes/school supplies, one of my two rings, an irreplaceable memory card with family photos on it, and who knows what else.
I found myself annoyed not only with the thief, but with the people who asked incredulously...you left your purse in your car? As if it was somehow my fault that some criminal decided that what was mine should be his/hers and broke my car window to obtain it. Our society's morals and values have deteriorated to the point that the victim gets blamed for what the criminal does. Yes, it would have been responsible of me to bring my purse in and not TEMPT that poor helpless thief in the first place but I forgot. How does that make me the bad guy? Maybe it does. Or perhaps it's kind of like asking if I'm my brother's keeper?
Yet today, I have been reminded again and again how blessed I am. Orange dragonflies that brought to mind the beauty of the earth; The painful images of the families in China trying to find flood survivors that made me realize how much I truly have to be grateful for; The peace I felt knowing that I had followed the recommendations of the prophet and had emergency cash as well as a food supply to get me through the end of the month; The support of wonderful friends and family to help me take care of the thousands of details; A family home evening lesson by my 11 year old daughter on serving others; The blessing of discovering that what I had initially thought might be an expensive repair on my cooler turned out to be an easy (and free) fix; And yes, even the actions of a thief, who is helping me to be humble without even knowing it. I'm sure there are many, many more lessons to be learned (and relearned) as I examine this day.
How grateful I am for the church and its blessings in my life. I know God loves me and is patiently teaching me. I hope that whatever the purpose of this event in my life, that it may also be an instrument in the life of the thief to somehow bring him or her to God. And I hope that whether the Lord sends me dragonflies or thieves, that I will be humble and willing enough to listen.
2 comments:
April, I'll admit I too asked that question. "You left your purse in the car?" but then again..Ive left my cell pohone in the car on many occasions and didnt even lock my car (though anyone is rarely up here)..but you're right to always look at the bigger picture..I too pray that maybe in looking at your family pic or the contents of your purse that this thief will be convicted and brought to Christ through repentance. I had a rough day in a fog of pain today..I've been putting off going to the doctors for tests, but God had shown me much today through my experience day..Love you dear and I know God will restore to us with his love, grace and mercy that which was taken in ways we have yet to count. <3
I am glad you know better than to listen to those who might make you the problem. No one has the right to take what doesn't' belong to them, no matter where they may have left it. Sorry you had to go through all of this, but as usual, you share what you have learned, and we are all better for it.
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