Monday, June 16, 2014

Wipers And A Wimpy Belt


Posted Oct 15, 2010 ~ A story about God's faithfulness and my first mowing season as a widow


A couple weeks ago, I had an interesting day, mechanically speaking. I was very dismayed that after about eight loops around my front yard, the cutting blades did not engage when I pulled out the PTO lever on my lawn tractor. I groaned inside, as anything going wrong with the lawn tractor always meant having to ask for help from my neighbor or a dear friend who lived an hour or more away. After turning off the engine, I lowered the cutting deck to its lowest position and stared at the wimpy belt. The thought ran through my mind: The Lord and I can fix this.

So with God’s guidance, we did just that! I was elated and thanked the Lord and got back to work until the belt jumped off again after another 15 minutes or so; only this time there was a spring laying on the deck, unattached. I figured out where it belonged, reinstalled the belt and started off again. Feeling a little less prideful, I fixed it again and again until after the fourth time, it dawned on me that I needed to look for the reason this was happening. Guess I’m a little slow in the cause and effect dept. I then realized there was a loose pulley that was allowing play in the belt.

So, now the hunt was on. Finding Buck’s ratchet set and trying to decipher the right socket was not easy. Figuring out how to use them with an extension and pair of pliers to hold the nut under the tractor was pretty tricky too, considering I have never used a ratchet before. And what would I do without “Righty Tighty, Lefty Loosy”! I waited until last week, when I needed to mow again, to find out if my efforts were successful. It was so wonderful to mow the lawn without interruption! We did it, Lord! Yay God!!!

I felt encouraged by my tractor experience, so I jumped into another little project I thought I would probably need assistance with. In preparation for selling Buck’s car soon, I purchased some replacement windshield wipers. It took me awhile, but I finally got them installed. I was thrilled that they didn’t go flying across the garage, the first time I tried them out!

Little by little, I’m learning to be more God sufficient and I’m so thankful that He is helping me with this unfamiliar territory. His Word says: You have not because you ask not. I've been asking more and He has been a very patient teacher. It also says: “The Lord sustains the fatherless and the widow…Psalm 146:9. I know first hand that this is truth, as His Faithfulness continues in so many areas of my life. How thankful I am that He knows each of us as individuals and He cares about all that is going on in our lives. He consistently makes me aware of His presence. How very blessed I am as we journey on together!