I don't know what it is about me and bill paying. It's kind of like being back in school and having homework...homework that never gets done. Every month the bills get out....every month they come back. I've been late on a couple of them before and to me, late notices are like a big, fat "F" on my report card. I picture in my mind the bill sender as a cross old teacher with one fist clenched on her hip and the other hand with a wagging finger shaking back and forth crossly in front of my nose. Month after month this goes on. The shaky hands, the stomach aches........the Scrooge attitude. Every month.....that is....until this month.
Post-it Notes and their lack of glue has shed a new light on Thanksgiving for this Bah-humbug, bill paying gal. The 22...and counting.... colored sheets of square, barely glued paper hanging on my fridge has done the job of Jacob Marley and all three Spirits of Christmas to make this bill paying Scrooge a believer. A believer in what? A believer in God's daily provision! Our family's "November's 30 Days of Thanks" started with a movement to take back Thanksgiving and give thanks where it's due....our Lord and Savior. Bending over every morning to re-stick the previous days thanks, forced me to look at all 132 of our thanks.....and counting..... multiple times a day. Today, however, I felt defeated by the steady flow of silent, drifting notes and I gathered them up in a pile and placed them next to the fridge. Random holes of exposed refrigerator were tall tale signs where thank yous to Jesus were once stuck. One of the kids noticed the gaping holes and the pile of fallen notes and asked what happened. I told him we needed sticky tack to give the Post-It's extra sticking power. A few teeny pieces of sticky tack to the back of the renegade notes and they were finally stuck in place!
My bill paying attitude.....the lack of faith of my Lord's providing for me and our family.....was like Scrooges gnarly fingers flicking each Post-It note of thanks down. With every grumble, growl and moan I was removing a thanks from the fridge. It was like I was telling Jesus, "Yeah, thanks for the groceries last month but.... I know THAT won't happen again!" Being thankful should encompass not only the past provisions, but my provisions of the present and future. Like the sticky tack on our post-it's, Jesus' words in Luke 12:22-30 works like superglue and holds our thank you notes up permanently for my doubting eyes to see. Jesus lovingly tells us that He WILL provide! He has blessed us with so much, yet, how easily I forget. For 21 years, He has faithfully paid every bill, provided a roof over our heads and food for our table. For the next 21 years.....and beyond.....He promises to provide for those same needs. ".....Oh ye of little faith.....seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind........your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." If my Master says He will take care of me.....His promises are true!
Day 24.....Thanksgiving Day.....November's 30 Days of Thanks. I'm thankful for second, third and infinity chances for bill paying Scrooges like myself with little faith......and sticky tack comes in handy, too!
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