Y’all, I almost missed it.
I’ve been so unfocused, weary and overwhelmed for the past few months, that I failed to recognize a knock at my door as an answer to a prayer.
First, I need to say that while I love my big oak trees and shady neighborhood, I am not fond of yardwork. I do not find pulling weeds, raking leaves or playing in the dirt relaxing; it is an unpleasant, but necessary chore. However, I do try to keep my yard neat and tidy so I won’t get voted off the street by my neighbors.
As if the pandemic, changes in routine, the stresses of social distancing and masking, and nearing contract-end with my job were not enough, Hurricane Sally blew in, whooped the tar out of us, and left behind a huge mess.
Did I mention I don’t like yard work?
Thankfully, I did have help cleaning up after the storm. But the whole cleaning up episode made me very aware of other things that I needed to address.
Like trees. They grow. And they prevent sun from getting to parts of the yard, so the grass dies. Because the grass dies, the area becomes a creek bed during heavy rains and washes away the soil. And the bigger the trees grow, the more likely they are to cause damage to my house in another storm.
Since this was beyond cutting grass and pulling weeds, it was all out of my area of expertise. I had prayed for wisdom about what I needed to do and when I needed to do it.
I started by having gutters installed.
I also knew the trees were an issue, but I honestly did not have the mental energy to deal with getting multiple estimates for tree removal. I always feel like an easy target with things like that since I don’t know what is a reasonable estimate.
The other morning, my neighbor stopped to tell me he was having two large trees taken down and that some of the debris might be placed in front of my house until FEMA made their pickup. He went on to tell me about the challenge of getting estimates post-Sally and finally decided this company was fair and reasonable. We then went our separate ways.
A couple of hours later, there was a knock on my door. It was one of the tree surgeons working next door, who asked if I needed an estimate for tree work. I said “no, but thanks” and closed the door.
A minute later, I literally stopped in my tracks. I had a moment of extreme clarity. In my distracted-state-of-mind, I just hadn’t gotten back around to praying again about the trees, but…
I DID need tree work done!
I DID need an estimate!
I DID need to know what was fair and reasonable!
This company had already been vetted and deemed fair by a trusted neighbor…and the tree company had literally knocked on my door.
DUH!
I hurried out the door to catch the tree surgeon. A few hours later, seven trees were cut up in piles by the street and three others had gotten a good trim.
Once again, I experienced the goodness of God!
…But, wait! There’s more! I was up early the next morning excited to rake up leaves in my sun-filled side yard! And as I raked, I started to visualize what I wanted to do in the yard in the months to come! Me? Excited about yard work? Yep, that is definitely God’s doing!
And to think, I almost missed my answer to prayer because it did not come the way I expected or when I expected!
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think,
according to the power that works within us,
to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus
to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
~ Ephesians 3:20-21