One Pull, Many Blessings

I look for God’s tender mercies in my life every day, and this week my heart is full of gratitude for the blessings I was given to serve.

Earlier in the week I went to Mom’s home to check on things and pick up the mail. When I arrived, I realized the yard was in urgent need of care. I had paid the neighbors fifty dollars to help, as they have many times before. They usually ride over on their lawn mower and take care of her yard quickly. This time however, it was obvious that they had not used the lock code to access the backyard, and none of it had been touched. I left her home knowing the yard needed my attention.

After some time passed, I realized the responsibility was mine to take care of. So yesterday morning, after a heartfelt prayer, I headed back to Mom’s home. I prayed that the equipment would work, that I would have the energy to finish, and that I would be spared from bug bites. In the past, every time I worked in her backyard, I came away covered in painful chigger bites.

I knew I needed to start in the backyard, so I began weed eating. Very quickly, I realized there was no way I could finish the whole area that way. I would have to get the lawn mower running. By that time, my back was already aching badly, so I stopped, rested for a moment, and said another quiet prayer. I found the key, unlocked the barn where the mower was stored, pulled it out, and prepared the carburetor.

Then it happened. With one pull, it started. It had been sitting for over a year, not touched, yet it started first try!

I stood there amazed. I began mowing her yard, stopping often to pick up debris and move obstacles. Each stop meant turning the mower off, and every time, with a single pull, it started right back up. To me, it felt nothing short of a miracle. I finished the backyard and moved to the front yard.

When I got there, I realized I could not unlock the gate to mow along the alley. I knew Mom would receive a code violation if that area was left untouched. I tried every key I could find, but none worked. So I drove down the alley, parked the car and then cleared the entire area with the weed eater. Normally, my back would have given out long before I finished, but I worked without an ounce of pain. I knew I was being carried through it.

I had planned to stay and do more, but by then I was filthy, covered in grass and sweat, so I decided to return another day. Today is Sunday morning, and I woke up with not a single bug bite on me.

Once again, I am reminded that God’s care shows up in quiet, ordinary moments. I am deeply thankful for the strength, the protection, and the opportunity to serve, and for the tender mercies that meet me exactly where I am, spiritually and physically!