In God I Trust

Almost thirty days ago -- May 24th to be exact -- I LOANED a friend some money.

Now if you've been following The Dialogue Den for any amount of time, you know that I was in a car accident on April 29th and was found liable...even though I was the one who was hit. But...that's another post for a different day.

I bring it up though because, since I was found liable, and I only had liability coverage on my policy (no comp & collision), I had to pay for the damages to my car.

Now...if you've also followed The Dialogue Den for any amount of time, you know that I get paid TWICE a month, yet I am only able to "touch" ONE of the two checks. The other goes COMPLETELY to rent.

So...I had a little it of money left to get my car repaired when my "friend" called in DIRE STRAITS needing to BORROW a certain amount of money. Well...wouldn't you know...this "friend" needed approximately $100 less than what I had come up with for my car repairs.

After begging, pleading, and PROMISING that I would have the money RETURNED to me in THREE DAYS...I LOANED the friend the money. I was ADAMANT and made it EXTREMELY clear that I needed the money back in the PROMISED amount of time, because it was my car repair money.

You already know what I am about to say next.

That LOAN was made on May 24th and I have not heard a PEEP from my "friend." Nope. That money is LONG gone. Apparently, it was poor judgement on my part thinking that when a person makes a PROMISE, that they are actually going to KEEP it. At least with regard to this particular individual, the judgment was poor.

I have called.
I have emailed.
I have sent texts.

SILENCE.

At this point, I'm done. Not reaching out anymore.

This "friend" simply has to live with the fact that a PROMISE was made to me, and that PROMISE was broken. Maybe that will mean something to them -- maybe it won't.

Even without that money that I so desperately need returned, I have found myself giving THANKS to God, because He is still providing. No, I haven't been able to purchase every meal that I've wanted -- but I haven't missed a meal either.

Yes, I now have to cancel my cable service because I don't have the extra funds to keep it going right now -- but I still have Internet, so I can watch plenty of other stuff for FREE.

And He has provided in a host of other ways too.

So, where most folks would be ANGRY with my "friend", I simply have pity. Pity for a person who would stoop so low as to take a person's car repair money and not return it -- all the while knowing that the person who LOANED you the money is still taking public transportation to and fro because the car situation is now in limbo. Yes...I have pity for a person who stoops that low because it says a whole lot (negatively) about that person's character (or lack thereof).

I simply can not be angry when I know with 100% certainty that God will provide. He sees my need and He will fulfill it. THIS i know for a fact!

So on this day, "30 Days of THANKFULNESS: Day 9" - I am THANKFUL for God who keeps making a way for me when there seems to sometimes be NO way. He is an AWESOME provider, and His track record is FLAWLESS.

Now Let the DIALOGUE begin: Have you ever LOANED someone money that they didn't pay back? Are you still in contact with that person?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Give...don't just TAKE

Out of all the character flaws a person can have, I must say that SELFISHNESS is my LEAST Favorite.

I can not stand SELFISHNESS!!!

Lie to me if you must.
Steal from me if you must.
Exude SELFISHNESS, and we have a problem.

I went to lunch today with some former co-workers. One of them has now started his own cookie business, and his cookies are delectably delicious.

After eating one at the restaurant where we dined, I wrapped up 3 more to bring home to my kids.

I get home and give the first one to my son. He agrees, they are the BEST cookie he's ever had.

About 20 minutes later my youngest daughter comes to get a cookie. I look over to the counter where I had placed them and they are GONE...ALL GONE!

I look over at my son and he says, "What? I thought they were all for me?"

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!? Did you really think that I bought ALL THREE of those cookies for JUST YOU?!?"

I was livid!!!

I could not believe what I was hearing. Never once did he think to ask if the other cookies were his, nor did he ask if he could have any more. He just took it upon himself to eat the remaining cookies, never even thinking that anyone else would want them.

SELFISH!!!

I couldn't take it. I sent him to his room because at that moment I couldn't even look at him.

And no...I am not making a mountain out of a molehill over cookies. I am making the mountain over the principle.

He has got to learn how to think about others. It is not "all about him".

This is the problem that our entire society has. Everybody is thinking about themselves and no one is thinking about anyone else.

I hate it!!!

It's time that we start thinking about others. And if the change has to start in my home, then so be it. I am committed to eradicating SELFISHNESS...one person at a time.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: What is YOUR least favorite trait in a person?

Talk to me!

Til next time...