Preparation Beats Fear
Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? Luke 14:28
I’m one of those people who never gets on a plane without looking for the location of the emergency exits. And when I check in to a hotel, I locate my floor’s exit doors and stairs. Once I’ve determined my way of escape, then I go about my normal, cheerful business.
Jay and Holly watched me do that for years, so when they were teens, and we were en route to visit relatives, they insisted I stop thinking the worst. I assured them I merely was being prepared just in case. But in our hotel one night, I gave in to their insistence, and didn’t look for the stairs nearest our room.
You know what happened next, of course. Yep, early the next morning, the fire bell went off. For a startled moment, we looked at one another, not believing what we were hearing.
But I was the mother, so with seeming calmness I announced, “It’s okay. Let’s just get out of here.”
I felt the door—no heat—and then opened it, and we stepped out into a pitch black hallway. Not even the usual emergency lights were visible.
“Father, help!” I implored.
Immediately, a woman’s voice came out of the darkness.
“Is anyone on this floor?” she asked in a heavy Spanish accent.
“Three of us,” I answered.
“Come this way,” she said. “Follow my voice.”
With Jay and Holly hanging on to my arms, I felt along the wall as we approached the woman. At last we saw her in a black-and-white maid’s uniform, standing near the fire door.
I thanked her, but she waved us toward the stairs. “It’s okay. But do hurry.”
The fire quickly was contained, and we were able to return to our room to claim our luggage for checkout.
Amazingly, though, we didn’t see that maid with the rest of the staff in the parking lot. And none of the other workers wore black-and-white uniforms. Isn’t it interesting she appeared as soon as I asked our heavenly Father for help? To this day, we wonder if perhaps heaven hadn’t been the scene of an angel alert.
We don’t always receive such direct, on-the-spot answers to our petitions, of course. But every now and again, I’m convinced God does intervene directly through his messengers. So keep watching. You never know what form the miraculous will take.
By the way, Jay and Holly never teased me again about finding the exit locations.
Being prepared is part of my nature. In fact, that approach to life has helped me when I’ve had to make major purchases my family and I needed.
As a single mom, I’ve found two big headaches have been decisions over what to drive and where to live. And since I suspect these are probably problem areas for you too, let’s take a look at what is involved in buying a car and buying or renting a house or apartment. Yes, if God provided an angel when we needed help in that hotel, cars and housing are no problem for him. But we have to do our part too. Let’s look at car purchases first.
Are you like me—bewildered by all things mechanical? Then let me encourage you: Don’t despair. If I can jump over the car hurdle, you can!
First, the more you understand about your car, the less afraid you’ll be and the less likely you’ll be taken in by a not-so-honest mechanic. A good place to start learning is by reading the owner’s manual that comes with the vehicle. I finally got around to reading the one that had been lying untouched in my glove compartment since Day One.
The best thing you can do to keep your car running smoothly for a long time is to have it maintained regularly. So ask your friends for recommendations of reputable repairmen.
But what if you have to buy another car?
I assume you are praying for our heavenly Father’s help and trusting him to direct you to a good used car. Why should you consider a used car? Because it costs less than a new one.
Yes, some folks say when we buy a used car we may be buying someone else’s problems. That’s why a reputable mechanic is invaluable. Thus, before we buy a used car we need to make sure the seller will agree to our having it checked out by our chosen mechanic. That checkup may cost a few dollars, but it will be worth it in the long run.
So where to start? If you don’t have a specific make of car in mind and don’t have the foggiest notion where to begin, just keep calm and do your homework. Sure, that’s work, but we’re used to hard work. After all, we’re single moms!
Here are some tips:
Investigate Internet sites: Enter “sites for buying cars” in your Internet search engine. Several options will appear, including cars.com, edmunds.com, and valucar.com, along with local sites offering helpful information and specific advice for purchases.
Check out Consumer Reports. Visit the Consumer Reports.org website or thumb through Consumer Reports Magazine at your local library to see which cars have the best safety and maintenance records.
Call your insurance agent for a recommendation. Insurance can vary depending on a car’s year, make, and model, so consider that cost before you start looking.
Look within your social group. Ask friends if they have or know of a reliable car for sale. Check the bulletin boards at work too.
Know how much you can afford. And once you’ve set that figure, don’t allow yourself to be talked into spending just a little bit more. Those multiplied “little bits” can keep us bound by debt.
Ask questions. If you call about a car advertised by a private owner, here are a few suggested questions:
1. What’s the general condition of the vehicle?
2. May I have my mechanic check it over?
3. Can the car pass the emissions test? (If the car can’t pass the test in states where it’s required, license plates won’t be issued.)
4. Would you recommend this as a car for families with young children?
I’ve been pleased by sellers who’ve taken a deep breath and then answered honestly as they warned buyers not to buy their car because of potential problems.
Whew! You are halfway there. Next, we’ll consider what to look for when you examine the car you are considering.
Take a deep breath. You can do this.
Prayer: Father God, being prepared “just in case” is an issue I need to work on. But thinking about car maintenance and purchase right now is exhausting. In time, I’ll deal with that. Today, I trust you to help me with other details. Always, though, may I feel your presence and your peace. May my children and I experience your provision in new ways.
Thoughts to Ponder
Personal Ponderings