Posted on 04/30/2017 7:29:34 PM PDT by fhayek
I know how vanities are frowned on around here. And I understand fully that policy. But I need to talk to my friends here at FreeRepublic. I have a problem. A serious problem. Not a I-need-six-months-chemo-problem. But a problem that, I have no doubt, you would consider catastrophic.
It is a problem that had me considering drastic options. Extreme options. Irreversible options. I saw no way out. So I prayed for a miracle. My miracle involved buying a lottery ticket. That is was my only way out.
The funny thing is, God's idea of a miracle is vastly different from the idea of stupid mortal humans. What happened, and tears are streaming down the sides of my face as I type this, what happened was that my family (four wonderful daughters, and a truly special wife) rallied around me. They embraced the situation. They even think that this can a new lease on life. It was a response that I had never even considered. God sure does work in mysterious ways. I don't need a lot of responses here. But I can testify that miracles do happen.
Welcome to Free Republic!
Conservatives for God, Family, Country!
I don't think there is one problem with you vanity.
It dealt with the first 2 that FR touts.
Thanks for praising God with us.
It's good for your soul to speak of the things God does.
And it's good for others to hear of the things God does
Often it is the annoying obstacles in our lives that prove to be the stepping stones to greatness — stones that we never would have tried to climb upon had circumstances not forced the choice upon us as preferable to the alternatives.
My niece has five lovely girls. Her charismatic husband was a super salesman. He worked for some Madoff types. He didn’t realize there ruze until the feds came in after he had quit and started a ministry. He was doing so well spreading the faith, I think he was targeted for takedown. His bosses were never charged.
Sad that neices husband was sent up, but I have seen her stay her faith and raise her young family, with help of the church.
I gave up a few properties in time past, and no fun.
I later learned my lesson and stayed F&C in property.
Check into county tax sale property...
Thank you for sharing your testimony. It has refreshed my faith this morning in the face of very similar current circumstances.
May God continue to bless you and your family!
Savor the touch of God upon your life.
It is a wondrous thing to behold.
He will never leave you nor forsake you, or anyone who puts their trust in Him.
You are a wealthy man, in the truest sense of the word.
I got it, God bless you.
I understand your post, and how the house is not the issue.
But there are ethical people who buy houses to sell them to someone else but always make sure the residents are able to stay in their home. They have to take less money from the deal than a buyer who would have let the family be evicted. Worth looking into maybe.
Very vaguely written. So you bought a lottery ticket and this gave you hope and joy in your life?
I’m sorry to be the one to tell you, and I didn’t read all the responses; just going by what was said in the OP, but your chance of winning the big winning numbers in the lottery are about the same whether you play or not.
You should have led with this or at least included it in the OP.
Not by me. I've never frowned on so-called 'vanities'. In fact, they're some of the most interesting threads I encounter here.
Glad to hear that things worked out for you.
Amen.......RALLY ROUND THE FAMILY...........
I’m down
Saying a prayer for your problem. I am glad you told your family and that they rallied round in support. I Am guessing it was some kind of financial calamity and true that you can get throu anything with these loving women around you. Yes, a new chapter of life. May things get better and better. I believe they will. I’m sorry this happened.
I know of a man who had a new wife and stepkids, who lost his job one day and couldn’t dare tell his family. They went out to a local chain restaurant for dinner and he died there of a sudden cardiac event. He had been under extreme stress and feared telling them. Glad you spilled the beans.
What numbers did you pick?
That is so hard. I’m so sorry. And I’m glad you have the real riches of family.
Relaying this from my godfather who is here to change my oil and other stuff-I-can’t-do:
I can assure you that one day you will experience a joy you can’t anticipate right now — some blessing, some miracle that brings you immense happiness — and you will think about your difficulties today, and you will know, “If THAT hadn’t happened, THIS wouldn’t have happened.”
And there will be many days when you won’t think about today at all.
ps: As for lottery winnings, the Devil sends those too, so even if you had it you’d still have plenty to worry about.
/godfather
Buttons here: IMO four daughters is four lottery wins already!
You learned a great lesson. My preacher yesterday illustrated his sermon with this quote.
“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory, and Other Addresses
It seems to me you are done with mud pies. God Bless!
There is nothing so bad that you should give up all hope.
Up until I was 14 my family had a pretty normal and stable life. Then my brother died and my parents found their solace in meth. Things fell apart. Jobs ended. We lost a house. We were evicted from an apartment. Then at 16 my father raped me. He went to prison but with my mother’s meth habit exposed the police and social workers became a frequent part of our lives. It wasn’t unusual for the door to be kicked open at 3am and for everything to be trashed while the place was searched. It wasn’t unusual for me to be harassed at school by cops who thought I might be holding drugs. Sometimes they just wanted to harass me.
When I turned 18 I was pretty screwed up with some crazy ideas and I made some GREAT decisions for all of the wrong reasons.
Eight years later both of my parents are gone but I’m surrounded by a family that loves me and I love them right back. Sometimes this life is so wonderful that it causes me to cry and worry that it might end.
I’d have never known this happiness without the trials I suffered before this.
A friend of mine says that people are sometimes like steel.
The cheap steel melts when it’s exposed to fire but the good steel becomes even stronger.
Try to be the good steel. (-:
God bless you and your house!
- Megan
We are a family here & I pray that it all works out for you. And yes, let us know....even the smallest bit can help. You sound as if your family is very tight and that is a blessing. Looking forward to hearing from you FRiend.
Thank you for posting that. Conservatives should stick together.
Hades knows the liberals do and make pathways for one another.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.