Lesson to be learned

Well, I went out to a friend's house in the Gazelle area to return some dawg training items and pick up a check. They live up on a hillside past Scarface Road on Old West Side Road,  overlooking Shasta Valley and the view is incredible.My dogs were so excited. They love to romp around and enjoy the freedom.

 I knew my friends were not at home so I was a little surprised to see an older man waving at me as I had gotten out of my 4 Runner at the back of the property. He asked (by name) if the owners were home.
Nope.
Are you their daughter? He hollers.
I laughed... He didn't have his glasses on.
Nope.
What did ya do to your neck? I went over to shake his hand and introduced myself.
Fused it over a year ago. It's still has some bad days and today is one of them.

He came over to borrow ten bucks from my friends. He's a neighbor. Nice old fellow. Rancher.
I know when God is prodding me. He needed the money for gas and doesn't get money until Friday. Hmmm. Let me preface this: I was in the EXACT SAME POSITION LAST WEEK AND CALLED A FRIEND! My account was getting too low for comfort. She responded so happily.

So, I looked in the wallet and had $7....I gave him $5..   then I felt convicted so I went back and gave him $2 more and then found three more tucked between two family photos but held on to it...
Do you like to hunt? He inquires.
Nope.
Hike?
Yep!
He invited me to hike his acreage anytime.. As we talked some, I came to find out he is also a property owner at R Ranch and happens to know my birth father That's where I am headed next. Small world.....
He headed off and said he'd pay my friends back the money. I told him it was a gift but he insisted.. OK, whatever. I know how he feels. I've been in the same predicament.

I played around with the burros for a bit, took a few snapshots and as I drove away down the long dusty driveway, I knew what I had to do... I made a left turn at the bottom of the hill instead of a right and hung another sharp left up the long 1/4 mile driveway... Henry was sitting out on a chair in between two old cars in front of his older home.
I handed him the other three greenbacks. He smiled. Thanks much. I wonder what he was thinking.

He invited me again to hike and showed me where the gates are to go up the small ridge.
Thanks, Hank...
He told me about that Labrador Retriever of his, the white one who used to be black until he was bitten by a rattler and he went blind. Henry spent 300 bucks on him, trying to save his eyesight.. The old dog is inside a fenced yard and is totally white!


"Come back and hike." he repeated... he waved warmly as I departed. I looked at his herd of Arabs and Mustangs. He cross breeds them for endurance. Beautiful and strong-looking. I'm feeling pretty selfish.

I drove off, knowing how badly I need humbling, how my heart was holding on to a few bucks because things are tight now but it's no different. God should be in charge of my money - He provides. I had about $2 left last month... We made it...by the generosity of many.

Then another thought hits me as I wipe the confessional tears away across my face. I turned the 4 Runner around again...
Back up the road. Back up to Henry sitting in the chair and the blind white barking Lab...
I handed him the Gospel of John. He was tickled pink. Said he would read it tonight..Thanks! He grinned happily, waving it in the air.

I turned my 4 Runner around, past a few old beaten up cars and trucks and there sat Henry, hands on his knees, flipping through the pages of the Gospel of John.....So engrossed he didn't wave goodbye.

I wept all the way down the dusty road. I'd been touched by an angel today. Hank.. an old man who needed ten bucks and got it from a selfish woman who held it like the chimp with it's hand inside the coconut, fisting a five dollar bill and five ones... God busted my coconut and broke my heart.
LORD Jesus, bless Henry tonight. You are indeed Jehovah-Jireh, the God Who provides..
Thank You for Your mercy and for not giving up on me.
Amen