When He called me, I was busy leading a life on the fence. A handful of years after my divorce, He had rescued me from the evil one in an “only God can do that” way. Though He had done His part, I had
not really done my part. I’d gotten so good at fence walking, I had myself convinced that I was living the Christian life.
Then the phone rang.
It was Mother, she was in distress, having a difficult time breathing, needing oxygen. At this time Mother was 97, had lived alone for 25 years. So I left the office and went to see about her. We ended up having her taken to the hospital to be checked out – much to her chagrin. Mother,
being a life-long believer, thought she would just one day die, and that would be it, go home to the Lord. It’s funny how the Lord had other plans. How, in all things He works for the good, for those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. It was congestive heart failure. The doctor said she really shouldn’t live alone anymore. With only Social Security, a tiny nest egg and her other daughter in Austin, the solution was to move her in with me.
At this time, though I was a believer, I wasn’t exactly leading the kind of life a mother would be proud of. Mother adjusted well. I, on the other hand, was having a tough time. My weekend trips to my boyfriend’s family farm were no more. I couldn’t leave for more than five hours or so at a time. For an independent, worldly gal like myself, this was not what I had planned for my life. It was, however, what the Lord had planned. The Sunday after Mother moved in I started attending a Bible Church that was close by. I was also listening to a couple of folks on Christian radio that the Lord spoke to me through. As I started getting into the Word, He started changing my life. It was slow, but it was sure.
Then I lost my job.
As I searched every job board in this part of the country and applied for all the graphic designer jobs around, I became quite disheartened that no one wanted to hire me. At the time I thought surely it was my age or that I just wasn’t good enough. Then as I started getting calls for freelance work and actually generating a little income, it finally dawned on me what God was up to. He wanted me caring for Mother. By that time, I had been faithfully immersed in the Word and praying for understanding and guidance. I had also made quite a few changes in my life. The world was becoming less attractive to me. I was listening to that still quiet voice.
Life was good. Mother and I were getting along. It was a privilege to serve her and make her life as comfortable as possible. I felt as though I was doing what God had called me to do. I was listening to Him. When the Lord called Mother home, my means of support was cut off. The little bit of freelance work I had didn’t generate enough income to support me. But the greatest peace came over me because I believed what God had been telling me. That He would never leave me or forsake me, that nothing would keep me from His love through Christ Jesus. I truly wasn’t worried.
One Sunday in August, shortly after Mother died, my church was cancelled because of air conditioning problems. I felt the nudge to visit St. Andrew’s. (I was a member here many years ago when I was married.) On the way to church, in reply to my fervent prayer as to why I was going to St. Andrew’s, that still small voice said to me, “They need you.” OK, I didn’t understand, but I accepted. It was a nice visit, saw people I knew, went back to my other church the next week.
Then the phone rang.
This time it was to tell me about the job here at St. Andrew’s. The next time it was to tell me about the apartment for half the rent I had been paying.
The rest of the story is still unfolding, as all of our stories are. But like the apostle Paul, I am now convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. And I praise Him for that!
So, when He calls, my advice is to answer. You’ll never know the blessings He has in store for you if you let the machine pick it up.
