Give Thanks In Everything

It was super cold on Saturday and I was going to spend my whole day on a bleacher watching my son play soccer.  I had three layers on me, a pair of mittens covered my hands and I even took a blanket as an added measure to protect myself from the chilly wind.  Luckily right before the team went to play, the sun came out and I was relieved.  Warmth! As the kids played their last game, the sun begin to set, darkness crept in and the reliance of heat from the sun, along with the light was gone.  The day of soccer came to an end and we headed back to our car.     Alec was completely stoked – his team had just won three games in a row and he was proud of himself for the assist he had in the final game of the day which led to the winning goal.  To celebrate, my husband and I took the kids out for dinner.  The service was magnificent and the food was perfection.  Everything was just flowing so well.  In fact, the manager had even given Alec a coupon for 50% off a pizza and a free appetizer to celebrate his wins that day.  As we wrapped up, the phone call came in - our home security system had picked up that the sensor in the back door had went off. 

As we drove home, we reached the alley way and were about to pull into our garage when we noticed the back gate was wide open.  My heart sank and I begin to imagine the worst thing possible. Our house has been burglarized. I got mad, worried, sad and overwhelmed in a millisecond.  My husband got off, and so did Alec.    My husband went in the house, came back out and said, “It looks like all they took was the TV, but the back door is shattered – they threw a brick.”  At that moment I just started crying.  My gut knew that the enemy was trying to attack me and my family.  I was crying from being so angry but I didn’t want my children to see me react that way.  I stopped, put myself together and went inside the house to assess the damage.  Wow – there in my den laid thousands of pieces of glass on my floor, my couches, all over………  To make it worse, the footprints of the intruders were all over my floor and the emptiness of where our TV once sat was the proof that we were robbed. 

My  heart was racing and I didn’t know what to do.  I called my mom – she didn’t answer.  I called my dad – he didn’t answer either.  A few minutes later, my mom returned my call and I was telling her what happened.  My husband went next door and our neighbor came rushing over – he was going to run to Home Depot to get plywood and materials to help us so Chris could stay at home with me as we awaited the police.  Once the police arrived, I left to my room knowing I needed prayer.  I called my friend and second mom Irma T and she answered the phone all happy “Hellooooo Vickie”.  From there, I don’t know what happened, I couldn’t even talk, “Irma, they broke into my house.”  I was already crying and I don’t even know how she understood what I was saying.  The next thing I knew, without asking anything of her, she said, “We’ll be right there.”  I didn’t know it at the time, but as I was on the call, my kids came in and wrapped me in their hugs.  That was the last time I cried over what happened. 

 Our neighbor from across the street also came and helped with the door and clean up.  As I was sweeping  what seemed an endless amount of glass,  I was able to pause for a moment and see my husband, neighbor and friend putting up plywood and working together.  As I looked the other direction, I saw Irma going full throttle in cleaning mode.  I felt something in that moment that truly washed away the anger I had from what had occurred.  I had great people in my home replacing the evil that was left behind from our intruders.  Not only did I feel grateful, but I even found myself laughing at one point.  (Irma you always make me laugh.) 

 

A few hours later all the glass was picked up, the plywood was up keeping the cold wind out of our house and the footprints were cleaned away.  Before Tony and Irma left I asked them to pray and that is when the aha moment came in .  “Lord, I’m praying not only for Vickie and Chris but also for the people who did this.”

 
At that very moment I knew I had to forgive whoever did this so I could let the feelings of anger, panic and loss exit from my heart.  I started looking at the positive and derailed from the slump I was headed for.  I am truly thankful that my family is OK, because at the end of the day material items can be replaced.  What was meant for our harm, the Lord used for good.  I was able to see that good people can extinguish the corruption of others. I also learned that by forgiving those who tried to hurt my family, we were able to strengthen our bond and faith.

 

“When you thank Me for the many pleasures I provide, you affirm that I am God, from whom all blessings flow.  When adversity strikes and you thank Me anyway, your trust in My sovereignty is a showpiece in invisible realms.  Fill up the spare moments of your life with praise and thanksgiving.  This joyous discipline will help you live in the intimacy of My Presence.” – Jesus Calling, January 7, 2015

 

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. – 1 Thessalonians 5:18