And now, our regularly scheduled freakout from the Clam.
Kasia February 6th, 2009
You know that part of Matthew 6 where Jesus tells us not to worry? That’s one of my all-time favorite parts of the Bible.
You know why? ‘Cause I just don’t seem to be able to beat it through my enormous skull.
Yesterday Canuck gently (well, as gently as possible) broke to me how much we are going to have to pay Uncle Sam for this next step in the immigration process. It’s over a thousand dollars. We’ve got it, but we were hoping to replace our furnace and air conditioner.
I had a little freak-out. He talked me down. I felt…better, but not great. He showed me a post from a friend that reduced me to tears because I was so amazed by the depth of her and her husband’s faith, and so ashamed of the shallowness of mine. I resolved to trust God more.
Then we went to run our errands for the day, and the car wouldn’t start. Again. This time it waited until I had just hung up with AAA and Hertz, then came alive. I cancelled with AAA and kept the Hertz rental (it’s an excellent rate, and we’ve got places we need to go). Dropped the car off at the dealership, ran to Hertz, and got what we could of the errands accomplished (which, for the record, is to say that we got to the Secretary of State and waited there, only to be told that I couldn’t change my name with them until I had changed it with the Social Security office – that’ll be another post – so we did not, in fact, accomplish much of anything). Went to friends’ house for dinner and had a lovely, lovely evening, in which I managed to mostly forget how freaked out I was about both the immigration money and the car. The husband counterpart of this family we are friends with even suggested that it might just be the battery. I was happy with that theory.
This morning the dealership called.
It’s not the battery.
They are pretty sure it’s the starter.
They are going to pop it out and see if they can just replace the contacts. If so, then after our discount (the dealership gives discounts for repairs on cars with 100K+, 200K+, 300K+, etc. miles) we’re looking at about $300. If not, we’re looking at more like $500.
I just put almost a thousand dollars into this car in December. I am not a happy little clam.
Replacing it is really not an option at this point – if we were going to do that, we should’ve done it in December. Now…well, we’re getting into that tricky area of sunk costs vs. throwing good money after bad.
In fairness, the car’s been outstandingly reliable. I bought it with 173K miles about five years ago. It’s now got 274K. And no matter how good a car is, with that kind of mileage, you’re going to have repairs. One pretty much has to bank on either having a car payment or having repair bills. Cars break.
I am not sure why this one had to break just now.
I keep reminding myself that God never gives us more than we can handle. I am inadvertently also reminded that Mother Teresa famously said that sometimes she wished He didn’t trust her quite so much.
I’m such a faith baby. I’m so wobbly. I wish He didn’t think I could handle what He does.
My parents are down South for an extended vacation. Canuck suggested we call and see if we could borrow their other car. They’re happy to lend, but the keys are with them – Dad is FedExing them back so we can borrow it. Lord love him. Dads are great.
Deep breaths, Clammie. This too shall pass.
Please, Lord, keep us and the rental car safe. I can’t afford to fix another car…
Of course, keep you all safe! BTW, rentals have insurance, so don’t worry about that!
Money (and the necessity of it) sucks, doesn’t it?
I totally agree with Jaibee…”Money (and the necessity of it) sucks, doesn’t it?” YES!!!
I also agree 100% with what you said too though…”God never gives us more than we can handle”. It’s SO TRUE, but so hard to understand at the same time…I’ve learned that just trusting in Him is the only way to get through the hard times. As difficult as it may be, it’s the only way to go…along with a good cry every once in a while! God loves us, believes in us, and trusts us to trust Him. Just breathe…it will all work out
Sirach 2:1-6
“My son, when you come to serve the LORD, prepare yourself for trials.
Be sincere of heart and steadfast, undisturbed in time of adversity.
Cling to him, forsake him not;
thus will your future be great.
Accept whatever befalls you, in crushing misfortune be patient;
For in fire gold is tested, and worthy men in the crucible of humiliation.
Trust God and he will help you; make straight your ways and hope in him.
As you well know, those words have been on my refrigerator for a very long time. And you know the reasons we need them to be there.
Every day I look at the beautiful image of the Divine Mercy and the words of our Lord. I ask myself, “do I trust Him or not?” The answer is that yes, I do.
I have become very aware that every day I have a choice. I can choose to trust in His Will – which is love and mercy itself. Or I can panic over our family’s circumstances. We have found that He is always present and that He always provides.
And where does our help come from? It comes from the Lord.
What is it that Fr. John always says, something like, “faith is leaning on the Lord so much so that one would fall over without it.” (I know I mangled it a bit – my memory isn’t the greatest but I think you get the point)
We pray for the strength to handle whatever comes next. The courage to follow wherever He leads. And trust Him to work out the details…
And remember, you are blessed. Poor, perhaps, but blessed all the same!
Much love to you my friend! Please let us know if we can help you in any way.
Welcome to the club. Here I am, home now with the baby one month into being a (largely) single income household…found out last week that our CPA screwed up our taxes for 07 and we owe the IRS $2000…and when the Beloved was on the way home for me to tell him this, a rogue Christmas tree flew off some a-hole’s (sorry) car from the oncoming lane and bashed in the hood of our 1 year old car. Naturally, said a-hole sped off…so I’m pondering how to come up with the deductible plus the IRS money AND keep everyone warm and fed for the rest of the month. And celebrate the Princess’ birthday in 2 weeks…there’s that.
It all sorts out eventually. In another month or so, I’ll be back on budget and shaking my head…and so will you.
You are right that you either have a car payment or car repair bills. TRUST ME: car repair bills are ALWAYS cheaper than a car payment, unless you got a real lemon. I made the mistake once of getting a new car, so tired was I from all those surprise repairs. Between the car payment and the regular maintenances that you have to do or risk blowing your investment, it was more than I bargained for. Even my van, bought used, cost me over $300 a month for the $15,000 loan. It has never needed $3600 (12 x $300) in repairs in any given calendar year. It’s best, when you can, to budget some money toward car repairs so they don’t hurt so much when they come.
As my father says, cars are a necessary evil. Replacing a starter or a transmission is likely with that many miles, and even if it’s the higher amount, it’s cheaper than two months of new-car payments.
When you can, do as Michelle Reitemeyer suggested and start a little car fund. I bought a new car out of necessity (headgaskets blew on my old car) and when it was paid off, I put the same amount into a “car fund” for the next one I need. I’ve dipped into it a couple of times for tires and the like.
I have to smile over your freak-out, as I have had a few lately, most recently today. Meltwater is coming through the flashing around my furnace vent. I can’t have someone out until the real thaw, when it’s warm enough for tar. So I’ll pray for your car and you pray for my roof, okay?
And remember: The Canuck is worth at least $1000, and is cheaper than going out and finding a new, less-reliable model, no?
As ever, Jesus (if he ever existed, and it is becoming increasingly apparent that he didn’t), was a [edited by blog owner]. Think Meher Baba: Don’t Worry. Be Happy! This is what we need more of in our fully function rock ‘n roll democracy.
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