The One Dollar Blessing

The One Dollar Blessing

In our house we laugh a lot.
Just between my Big Strong Man and I, we laugh, a lot.
We are each built so differently, and see things so differently, 
that sometimes the only thing we have in common given a 
situation is the comedy in it.

For instance...
While I was pregnant and living the life of a hermit in our dark 
bedroom during the Fall of 2012, new neighbors moved in across 
the cul-de-sac. Transplants from the north, just like us. 

Along with their love of different cultures and variety of foods
(including their HOMEMADE soy milk! -what?!?), they brought
with them a hot tub. 
-My Big Strong Man's most coveted random possession.-

One day, because it's how he is programmed, he made a passing 
comment about how nice it looked, or how much he wanted one, 
or something along the lines of...IwishIhadahottubofmyown!!!!!!!

Our very kind neighbors gave both he and I the go-ahead to 
indulge in it whenever we wanted. 
My Big Strong Man took this to heart and did just that- even during
the night, when he got the notion.

One day, in casual conversation, because, remember, he is just pro-
grammed this way, he let it be known that, if they were ever 
interested in selling it, or getting rid of it, he would be happy to take 
it off of their hands. 

I can be easily mortified- but remember, I laugh. A lot.

Sure enough, one day they had problems with their hot tub and 
unwillingly paid what needed paid and fixed what needed fixed and
saved their hot tub. 
When it broke again not too long after, they called us up. 
Did we still want it?
Yes! (Exclaimed my very delighted Big Strong Man, I could not have 
cared less, personally.) 

That very day, Big Strong Man rolled it across the cul-de-sac and 
fixed our landscaping to find the best home for it: between two rose 
bushes, with a stone path leading up to it. 
It really was/is very pretty.

Once he realized that the problem was easily fixed with a $1 clamp 
from the hardware store, he felt that he had to return the hot tub 
and enjoy being it's owner for the day. How could he, after all, receive 
this in good conscious knowing how cheap and easy it was fixed? 
But, to his great surprise, our neighbors did not care that the problem 
cost only one dollar. 
They did not care that the hot tub that belonged to them the day 
before was working once again.
They were over it. 
The hot tub was ours, and there was neither guilt nor strings attached.

Fun George

The moral of this story is this:
sometimes we need to ask for blessings, and certainly not turn them 
away.

My sweet friend Betsy recently published a book (which is available
on Amazon- how cool is she!?!).

   When Infertility Books are Not Enough: 

Embracing Hope During Infertility

                
In it, she writes about the desire of her heart, which is to have children. 
She, also, has learned the power of blessings. 
When she meets people who ask her baby-related questions, she 
explains:
              ...I prefer to make it known that we want children and 
                 that we welcome people to stand with us in prayer. 

So, no, we certainly were not asking anyone to pray for us to get a 
hot tub.
Rather, it is the heart of being open and honest and willing to receive 
the blessing. 
Being humble enough to be open. And real.

Do you find it easy to ask for help?
I do not, I admit.
Do you willingly accept someone's offer to help you (without your 
prompting)?
I also have difficulties with this.

While speaking with another friend, who is practically super-mom she 
reminded me, gently, that this is pride.

As I reread Blue Like Jazz, I stumbled across this gem straight from the 
amazing Don Miller (author) himself:

         "Don (Shannon), you are not above the charity of God.
         ...my motives were not noble, they were prideful. It wasn't
         that I cared about my friends more than myself, it was that 
         I believed I was above the grace of God. ...it's that I want to 
         earn my own way so I won't be charity. ...who am I to think 
         myself above God's charity? And why should I forsake the 
         riches of God's righteousness for the dung of my own ego?"  

So, dear reader, do you have trouble asking for blessings?
A breakthrough with fertility?
A new job?
A spouse?

Let us try together to be mindful of one another. 
How can we learn to be a blessing?
How can we learn to receive a blessing?

Dear friend, may your $1 hot tub come in God's perfect timing, and may 
you humbly receive it with gratitude. 

look for your blessings!- gomommyblogger