I am in the property tax appeal business in Colorado and Arizona.
Nancy called from Newton, NJ, regarding the taxes on a property owned by her sister, Carol. She thought I was with the County Tax office. After a few minutes of business discussion Nancy related the following to me.
She and her sister, Carol, have been estranged for more than twenty years. Both have been suffering with deep depression. Regrettably, Carol committed suicide last week. Nancy told me she attempted the same several months ago and again last week after hearing of Carol’s death. Nancy was found unconscious, taken to the hospital for a week while she recovered from her overdose of pills.
She thanked me for my assistance and was about to hang up when I asked her where she thought Carol was spiritually. The reply was Carol did not like anyone including, God. I asked Nancy where she stood with God. A long and thoughtful silence ensued. She responded that her painter, Frank, had been asking her the same question and what a “coincidence” this seemed to be.
I posed the scenario that if there is a God, heaven, hell and if she died tonight what she would tell God if He asked her why He should let her into his heaven.
Again, a long silence and Nancy said she just did not have much of an answer to that question except for the fact that she always tried to be a good person etc.
Nancy asked me what I would tell God.
My response was that I had been asked the same question 34 years ago by car dealer, Will Perkins. I briefly shared my story of how God had been working in my life and how Will had shown me God’s plan for salvation and that it was a gift, not a works thing. She grasped the bridge concept as illustrated in the
“Steps to Peace” booklet.
I pulled out my “Steps to Peace” booklet, skipped all the preliminaries and read her the prayer at the end and asked her if she would like to do that right now. She surprised me with an enthusiastic, yes.
The follow-up question of what she would now tell God came rolled right off her lips with such an uplifted and relieved tone of voice.
She spoke again of the “coincidence” of reaching me by “accident” and what her painter had been telling her.
Nancy then related how she now sees God’s hand in sparing her life. She is comfortable with changing “coincidence” to “providence of God”.
She is so elated that she can now eliminate suicide as an option, seek help from others and know that she can trust Jesus for everything.
She promised to call her son and then Frank, the painter. He has been encouraging her to start reading the Bible, which she is anxious to do.
Praise be to God for creating so many “coincidences” in our lives. Thank you, Jesus, for the opportunity to be part of your work!
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