Trees...here today, gone tomorrow

My husband has a love/hate relationship with the trees in our yard.  In the summer, he loves the trees.  In the winter.....not so much.  The oak trees leave TONS of acorns and don't lose their last leaves until April.  There is a constant war that takes place every winter between him and the leaves.   The leaves ALWAYS win.

All this to say, I got an email last week saying ....."Don't be  shocked if you get home and there are a few trees missing."   A few trees.  In my mind that means 3 or 4.  Not every stinking tree!  That's right, every tree in my front yard is now firewood.  I was mad.  I was upset.  I didn't say anything because I was afraid of what would come out of mouth.

What's the big deal??  Let me provide some background info.

About a month ago, Bob tied orange tape around each tree and called the power company to see if they would cut down the trees.  We kind of forgot about the trees for awhile.  One evening, a truck pulls up in the driveway.  The guy owned a tree removal business and saw the orange tape on the trees.  I had to take Adam to karate so I just waved to them as I pulled out of the driveway.  That night Bob told me the estimate the guy gave him for taking down the trees.  I cringed.  We had the money but it was a lot of money.  Bob explained that the guy was desperate for work and he was thinking about hiring them to cut down the trees. 

When I found out the next day that he had hired the tree removal crew, I was upset.  I was so sure that now was the NOT the best time to be spending money on trees.  Bob told me that night that he felt good about getting the trees removed and playing a part in giving 5 or 6 guys a paycheck to get them through the month.  I bit my tongue and just kept quiet.  

The guy came by one night this week to get his last check.  He kept telling me over and over how much he appreciated  the job.   He said that he was able to make payroll and his equipment payments and he couldn't thank us enough for helping him out.  I was humbled.

Then this afternoon, a young man stopped by our house.  He knocked on the door and I groaned.  I was still in my pajamas.  It was the first day of Christmas break and I was being lazy.  I started to hide but decided at the last minute to go to the door.  He wanted to know if we were going to do anything with the firewood left over from the trees.  I told him that he needed to talk to my husband.  About that time, Bob walked down the driveway and talked to the guy.  We had planned to take the firewood to my mom and dad.  Bob told him that and the guy got in a van filled with young kids.  Bob came in the house and said that he wished he could have given the guy the firewood.  I told him to call Dad and see if they still needed the firewood.  He called and my dad said he had plenty.  Bob jumped in the truck and went down the road to see if he could find the young man.  

Then it hit me.  I'm blessed and I was acting like a spoiled child guarding all her toys and refusing to share.  I have a job, I have a home that I can afford, I have my health, and I'm not worried about paying the bills.  By allowing the economic fears to penetrate my heart, I was closing off my heart to opportunities that God put in front of me to be a servant.  I'm humbled and I owe my husband an apology.  

How many men would jump in their truck, drive down the road to try and find a young man just to let him know that he can have our firewood?  How many men would feel enough concern to help out a guy trying to keep his business afloat during tough times?  I know of one guy and I'm thankful he's mine.

I pray that God will keep my eyes open to opportunities to serve others.  Who would of thought that the trees in my front yard had the potential of blessing others?  It just goes to show that God uses big and small things to make a difference in peoples lives.  If you allow fear and worry to cloud your vision, (like I did) you'll miss out on opportunities to join Him in His work.