Our Dump Trailer Stolen

Yesterday Jonathan arrived at the garage he rents in town expecting to begin his day of hauling dirt and moving equipment with his dump trailer he purchased about three years ago--only to discover that his dump trailer was gone!

This one. (Thankfully it had no equipment inside it!) 

It seemed like a heavy duty loss until we heard about the death of a godly and well-loved acquaintance, Steve Stetler, also yesterday morning. 

While we only lost a dump trailer, Mrs. Stetler lost a husband, his children lost a father, a mission organization lost their Missionary Care director.

My prayers for our dump trailer to be returned to us were few and far between, in between the waves of shock at the Stetler family's loss, and the memories of a phone call only days ago from a loved one who was suffering from the effects of a cruel divorce in the family.

Taken in perspective, our loss was so small.

"Lord, although we have our days turned upside down with the loss of a much-used dump trailer, we want to thank You 

That we only lost a trailer and not a husband and father.

That we only lost a trailer and not a prodigal son or daughter.

Thank You that when one financial loss after another keeps us from ever pulling out, we can still have a refuge in You. 

I could still pay for the groceries I was buying in Walmart when the texts started coming in about the stolen trailer. 

As my Psalm for this morning says, "Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.  For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name. Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, just as we hope in You."