Timing. Or maybe better titled "God's Grace"

Most people probably know that in a crisis the "deal with this" part of my brain kicks in and I can handle a situation. What you may not know is that about 1-2 hours after it's all over, I can pretty much have a meltdown or begin to stress out about the whole situation.

After my car accident today (there were no people injuries - only car injuries), the tow truck guy told me that with the age of my car and it's lack of it's (pre-crash) monetary value, he wouldn't be surprised if the insurance company totals it out. I like my car. It's very fuel-efficient and it has enough power for anything that I would ever need. Plus, I've been driving it for 9 years so I know it's little quirks and when something isn't just right.

However, I have been thinking that with one or more children coming that I should probably think about the fact that my car is aging and I should start saving for a new one. I even built that savings schedule into my 2009 budget. Today was the first paycheck on that budget so I'm not exactly at my savings goal for purchasing another vehicle.

So, 2 hours after I got home, my stress point became "What if they total out my car? I'm not ready for this."

When I was in college, at least one of my friends (probably more) and I used to ask each other to read a particular passage out of the Bible whenever we got wound up and stressed out. By God's grace, that particular passage was the first one listed for reading in tonight's section of the Bible Study I am working through. Hm. I am certain that this is not coincidental.

Matthew 6:25-34 (English Standard Version + Crystal's car commentary)

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on [or about your car, what you will drive]. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."