My dad joked about everything – sometimes to his undoing. When Mom and Dad built our house adjoining our country store, it was done well for the most part. As it often goes, there was one minute thing not completed – the back steps. It was one of those “little” things dad would do later. Later was too long in coming, as Mom often reminded him. One rainy Sunday, Mom, already dressed for church, dashed out the back door to give the dog our breakfast scraps. Those makeshift steps (Coke cases stacked) were wet and slippery. Mother took a bad tumble and made a nasty scratch on her leg. When Dad went out to help her up, Boy, did he ever say the wrong thing. “Hon, did you tear your stockings?”
Whether he was joking or just concerned about the price of a pair of nylons, Mom’s glare expressed all that needed to be said. Dad wasn’t much for saying, “I’m sorry,” but the new concrete little porch and sturdy steps magically appearing the next week expressed his regrets well.
Recently, I made a trip to Boise, Idaho, to see the advance showing of a Christian movie (Rising Free) my granddaughter and her husband had made. My son, his wife, and son were there also. We were doing one of those “everybody-take-care- of-yourself” lunches, as the group was busy getting clothes ready for the night’s events. I had just sat down to some chicken salad when my son Scott came in through the garage. He had been propped on their jeep, talking on his cell phone minutes before. The cars had been left on the driveway since we were to load up in them soon.
Just as Scott fixed a plate for himself, there was a loud noise that sounded like an explosion. It literally shook the house. Scott and the other males told the females to stay in the back of the house while they investigated. When they started out the garage door, they quickly came back to take another route. They tried the front door and couldn’t get out it either, so they went out the back and ran around the house to discover their two cars knocked into the neighbor’s yard (both cars were totaled), another man in his car sitting crossways in their garage (his car was totaled also), and a wall of the garage knocked down, blocking the front door.
Their first concern was for the well-being of the driver. They checked out the stunned man and helped him out of the car. They placed Band-Aids on his glass-pricked hands and took him a bottle of water. He had experienced a brief blackout, causing his foot to hit the accelerator instead of the brake.
The cacophonous sound brought out the neighborhood. The emergency vehicles closed off the circle where they lived, and the yards were filled with neighbors meeting other neighbors they didn’t know; some brought bottled water and another, a tray of goodies. Offers for places for all of us to stay, if needed, flooded us. One neighbor insisted some of us use their house to get ready. A block party couldn’t have brought people together like this catastrophe did.
It seems the man who caused the disaster lived just around the same circle. My granddaughter was told that he was a loner and very unfriendly. If you know me, though, you know I can talk to a stump. I engaged the man in conversation. He was overwhelmed. He said, “You would think they would be mad at me for destroying their house and interfering with what is supposed to be a huge event in their lives, but instead, they are more concerned about me. They even invited me to the showing.” That just proved he was not familiar with Christian responses.
How could good come from this great inconvenience? Neighbors were given the opportunity to meet and greet other neighbors. A man received a great Christian witness without even the use of a bible. And insurance companies took care of the brick, metal, and mortar. Fortunately, my son had come in the house just in time to avoid being hit, and my kids needed a new car anyway. The blessings continued. People offered the use of their extra vehicles, some came by to drive some of us, so I got to ride with one of the stars of the movie.
Only the Lord can put disastrous happenings in order in such a way to produce blessings. From the scriptures we read, He’s been doing that a long time.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Genesis 50:20
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

Jeremiah 33:9
Then this city will bring me renown, joy, praise and honor before all nations on earth that hear of all the good things I do for it; and they will be in awe and will tremble at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide for it.’