It has been a rough week. I have never been so frustrated in trying to help someone.
A parent of one of my kids from the soccer league reached out to me late last week about some financial struggles. She and her four children have been without electricity for 3 weeks due to an outstanding balance and the leasing office has given her 7 days to get it turned back on. How can I turn a deaf ear to this cry?
I love her son as one of my own. Therefore, she is family.
I began to pray and ask the Lord how he wanted me to respond to this need. Whether or not I needed to respond was never a question, is was the HOW?
I had a meeting with a donor early this week and let him know of the need. He also felt that he couldn't turn a deaf ear to the need of a struggling mother. Not sure of who he should write the check to, without thinking I told him to write it out FCA. For this reason, I did not hand it over to our administration assistant to process. I remember seeing it in my car Wednesday night.
After many hours on the phone with Georgia Power and the mother I realized this needed to be external of FCA and also needed to be done in cash. On Friday, I hesitantly called the donor back to let him know that I needed a different check written out to me. Immediately, he mumbled... No good deed goes unpunished. He told me the check had already been deposited and he saw it on his bank account this morning.
WHAT!?
Did I accidentally give it to our admin assistant to process?? I Musta. Geez, what will I do now? The donor asked me, So, what are you going to do now? Hmm, i'm not sure but I know i'll figure something out. Well, why don't you call to see if they will refund the donation and i'll write you a new check. Yes 'sir.
*1 hour later*
Ring...Ring...
Me: Hey! I solved the mystery.
What is it?
Well, the check you saw on your account was not for me, but another FCA staff.
Okay, well bring the check back and i'll give you another one for cash.
Alright, well I am having trouble finding the check 'sir but I will turn my car inside out to find it.
Really?? C'mon man. What happened to it?
I think Satan ate it, I have been looking for it for an hour now.
Well, come to my office once you find it.
I literally threw my cell phone on the seat next to me. On the verge of crying and yelling all in the same moment. I was so frustrated. Why was this donor being such a jerk (jerk?), and why couldn't I find the check I just laid eyes on what seemed like just moments before.
I start searching again outside my house. Which only lasted for so long as I can't really sit in an idle car without thinking someone will walk up behind me with a gun. I drove off in faith that I would find the check after arriving at this man's office. Nope. But I did find a toy army tank.
So, I walked into my donors office with this toy tank. Sir, this (toy army tank) is all I found in my car.
Not amused, he wrote me another check and told me to call him when I found the other check.
I gratefully took the check and went to the bank to get $600 cash to match the $490 the mom was meeting me with to pay the previous balance, current balance, deposit and fee to get it turned back on. On my way to Georgia Power pay center, my co-worker called to say she found the check in my office. PHEW! Don't remember putting it there, but who cares. What was lost is now found.
I wrote up a jank contract for her to sign saying she would volunteer 20 hours at the Atlanta Food Bank before December 1st. She willingly agreed to 'pay it forward'. (Great idea, mama!) She walked in moments later with her adorable 3 year old son.
We handed over the cash to the lady at the front desk. "Alright, ma'am your lights will be on this afternoon." Success! Amazing. Sigh of relief. Just barely made the cut.
I felt the nudge to take her to the food bank to show her where she will be volunteering and such. She followed me over there and we met the volunteer coordinator and received more information on the different opportunities. I realized how this volunteering could turn into a job opportunity for this mom! She also realized that and thanked me for everything as we walked to our cars.
As I was pulling away I noticed the toy army car in my passenger seat. I pulled back in and rushed over to her car with the toy in hand. I passed it through the backseat window to her son. "Here ya go little guy!" Then I scampered back to my car.
I called the donor and told him I found the check that needed to be voided and that I was encouraged by the whole situation. He was also encouraged and thanked me for making him a part of it.
I heard from the mom several hours later that the lights came on. I sent her our team verse from last season, "Jesus said, I am the light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of the world." Then I asked her if we could start a friendship since all this was now over. She was open to it and we set up a breakfast for next week to get together!
I felt like I totally took a risk. A chance. I am not sure what you would have done. Or what you think about what happened. You and I are in the same boat. I didn't know what to do. I questioned myself so much when I couldn't find the check anywhere and cried out to the Lord to give me a clear sign if I shouldn't do this. But I heard nothing. So I kept moving forward. The verse that kept coming to my was, "Do no withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, Come back later; i'll give it tomorrow when you now have it with you."
-Proverbs 3:27-28
The mom looked at me as we were leaving and said, "This wouldn't have happened if it weren't for you. Sorry, it was a lot for you to handle." I told her she didn't need to worry about it because we are family.
I once heard family doesn't always mean flesh and blood, but family are the people that help you when you need it the most. Do you have it in your power to act to help someone but you are waiting until tomorrow? You might be missing out on a blessing and an opportunity to join in on what the Lord is stirring up in our neighbors.
Humbled,
Adrienne
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