Debt Not A Dowry

On the eve of yet another weigh in and measuring, I am thinking about all that I ate this week and am wondering how it will go. I keep being reminded of the scripture, The Lord will never give you more than you can take/handle. Ive seen that my pressure points or my too muchness isn't the same as God's. The Lord made me and knows me even better than I could, so why wouldn't he know the big picture and how much I can take. A friend this morning at lunch said asked if "we were in the middle of a storm." I instantly thought of my two really good friends and how they are struggling. Struggling in home life and another in the workplace. These times I don't know how to help. You can't buy a card stating what their problem is with a pick me up. Then there is me and my weight loss program and crazy times at work. My friend said that if we aren't in the middle of a storm, then one is coming. He said that we need to be ready for it before it comes. We need to be strong in our faith so that when the crazy times come, than it won't change us b/c we are strong in our knowledge of ourselves and in the Lord. So, Debt not Dowry. I hate bills. Hate is a strong word and can be used in this instant. I have had a job ever since I was 16 or 17. One time I had two jobs, working at Kroger and than going to Hollywood Video to work a night shift on the weekends. During college I once took night classes and then worked overnight stocking shelves and straightening at Kroger. Back to tonight. Well, I had to call one of my credit card companies and ask for them to lower my payments and interest b/c I have been having a hard time making the minimum payments. I was very surprised that I did not cry once while on the phone with the man. He asked regular questions like What's my monthly income, what kind of jobs do I have, what do I spend my money on. In the end it was worked out that I will be able to have a lower interest rate and lower payments. So, I come with debt into marriage when I finally meet my future husband. Many of you will say, I did also. But, at times it just makes me crazy b/c I work and then work more. This is just something I will have to give over to God. I will have to put it on the list with......that's a different conversation. So, like my friend this morning was saying about being ready for the storms that come in life, tonight I am also thinking of what I need to be thankful for. 1. A job. There are so many people out of work now. there are also so many people at my job that would jump at the opportunity to work one on one with children on a daily basis. 2. A roof over my head. I am so grateful to my sister for letting me stay with her b/c I would have no money left at the end of the month to pay rent. My last trip years ago from Guatemala, I cam back 2 weeks early b/c I had gotten sick with a parasite. During that time I also realized panic attacks were taking over my life. they had nothing to do with the parasite and since they were still coming on when I was better physically, I really needed help. I had trouble even leaving the house, let alone getting a place of my own. My sister Jenny took me in like it was nothing and ever since she has let me stay with her. 3. Friendship. I type friendship and I instantly think of my best friend Becky. That she will put me in my place in a second and will also listen to me sob on the phone. That even though we live states away, I can call her up and it's like she is down the street. My friend Jackie is an answer to prayer. My church has little to none singles there. I had been praying for a girl to come to church that was in the same season of my life, and there Jackie was. There are so many other people that I can be myself, my gross crying and throwing a fit of "It's Not Fair", and they listen and help me in their own special way. And so this post is coming to an end. I think, well I know that I needed to be reminded of these things to be grateful for but also that my worth is not in how much debt that I am in, what the scale says, or how much extra I do at my job. My worth is in God and what He has done for me since the day I was born.