"Why Do You Keep Calling Me?"

I am supposed to be doing something else {even have the 5 little ones at my moms to get it accomplished - thank you mama!} but I am compelled to tell you all a brief story. 

Yesterday morning I received a phone call on our house phone.  Seldom does anyone call it, since we use our cell phones for almost all our calling.  When I answered, a woman said, "Who is this?"  I was like, "Excuse me?"  She said, "Why do you keep calling my home and hanging up?"  I was really perplexed.  I said, "Ma'am, as far as I know, no one from our home has called you." 

As I was talking to her another caller beeped in. I didn't answer it as I was in the midst of this conversation.  But I apologized and assured her that really, we hadn't called.  She said, "Well I called the phone company and they said it is your number doing it and you have been doing it for days."  I said, "Ma'am, I promise we have not been calling.  I am so sorry for whatever is going on, but really, it's not us."

We hung up and immediately the call that had beeped in before was calling again.   I answered.  This time it was a little old lady.  She said, "Why do you keep calling me?"  

Okay friends, imagine my confusion and how dumbfounded I was.  I know I have little kids, but I knew where they all were.  No one from our home had called this lady.  

This elderly lady explained that she is 87 years old, had just gotten out of the hospital and everyday my number calls her  - sometimes even 3 times a day!  I apologized profusely but said that truly, we weren't calling her.  I then said, "Did I call you on Saturday?"  She said, "Three times."  I said, "Ma'am, there was no one home at my house on Saturday.  So I don't know what's going on, but I will call the phone company."

A couple hours later all three phones that are connected to the house phone were on the counter next to me.  I was standing talking to Josh and Emma.  The house phone rang again.  It was the little old lady.  She said, "You called me again!"  I assured her that all three extension phones were next to me and no one had called her.  I said I would call the phone company right then. Which I did.

The first girl I talked to sounded like a robot.  What is up with that anyway?  She was probably new and reading every response to each thing I said.  Bless her heart.  UGH. 

She suggested that they send a repairman to look at the outside line.  The soonest they could do that was Thursday.  All I could think about was that sweet little old lady and my stupid phone calling her several times a day between now and Thursday.  I told her that what I really wanted was for her to shut off this number, give me a new one and then send a repairman to check the line. 

She finally consented.  So she took care of what she needed and then she said she would have to switch me to another department, who would find me a new number.


Okay, so at this point, if you are still with me, you may be wondering where this is all leading?

Here's what I'm getting at:  I have lots to do.  I really didn't need to be talking to two people who were accusing us of calling them everyday - and multiple times at that!  I didn't really want to make the phone company calls, etc.

But....as I talked to the first girl I really felt like the Lord said, "This isn't about you.  I have a bigger plan."   And when He spoke that, I had complete peace.  Believe it or not I was actually excited....anticipating what God was up to.

So how many times do we get frustrated by life's circumstances?  If God is really "causing all things to work together for my good" {Romans 8:28} then why is it we seem to be so bugged by stuff like the phone company problem? 

I have just begun to read the stories from yesterday's Memorial Box Monday...and I started at the bottom {I know, I'm weird and yes, sometimes I read the back of the book before starting it, again, confirming that I am a tad backward, right?}....well Lynnea was sharing in Our God Story about a problem they had.  God met their need in a miraculous way and as I was pondering that, so clearly the Lord said to me, "If you never had problems you would not see Me work." 

Wow!  I know that, but it was fresh and new and I am still blown away by how powerful that is.  It's so true.  How many of us would stop and pay attention to the God of the Universe if life was all peachy?  Not many. 

But our problems keep us on our knees.  They grow us.  They help us to learn to trust Him.  He is up to something with every single problem we encounter.  He is just so up to something. 

So back to the little old lady and my phone.  The first chica put me to the other department.  Immediately when I started explaining to this new lady about this, she said, "I had the same thing happen to me!"   Wow.  So cool.  She didn't think I was a nutcase!! 

That opened the door to a 48 minute conversation with this sweet woman.   I explained about how I needed the number to be unlisted because of the stalker I had.   And soon the conversation evolved into something that was only orchestrated by God.  She has many health issues and I truly {even though I don't know her} am concerned about her.  I asked if I could pray for her.  She was happy to have me do it.  {Her name is "P", if you would like to pray for her as well.} 

And as I hung up the phone {after 48 minutes!} I was giddy.  God had moved in such a way, that I know that I know that I know, she's the reason I had a phone issue. 

See! 

God was up to something!!


He loves "P" so much and He wants her to know it.   I am still stinkin' stoked about it all, totally thankful for the phone problem and praying for "P" and her healing.   I gave her my blog site address....so if you're reading it "P", I'm praying!

Today I called the little 87 year old lady and told her that it shouldn't happen again because I have shut off the old number and taken a new one.  She was so grateful it was completely cute.  She lives 4 hours from me.  I told her that if she was closer I would bake her an apple pie and take it to her for the troubles that my phone line gave her.  She giggled.  She told me she had just had surgery.  I asked if I could pray for her.  She said, "Bye-bye! Thank you for calling.  Check on me tomorrow."  I laughed.  Not so into me praying for her.  That's okay, I'll pray for her from here.  And I will call and check on her tomorrow. 

Okay, now I must get back to what I was supposed to be doing. ha!