God’s Divine Timing

Father God always hears and answers our prayers, not necessarily to your specifications. Often, He must work on several parties to create a harmonious result. Like what happened to me recently, about 26 years ago, I met a lady that called me her adopted daughter, and because my relationship with my mother was estranged, I took to her as it appeared she had taken to me. She was a financial advisor for a well-known company and encouraged me to invest money from my retirement fund with her. Bad idea, right!

Experience gives 20/20 Vision

She became like a mother to me and extended herself to help me with my single-parent responsibilities. She would introduce me as her adopted daughter. Whether everything she was doing was genuine, I believed so? So, when she asked me to use a couple of credit cards and invest some money, I didn’t hesitate, yes, another bad idea! Hindsight is always 20/20

The first loan from my retirement account was small, and she promised to pay it all back in one lump sum. The first loan was paid in full; we did another since the first one appeared to have gone well. Somewhere between the money she received for the second loan, the money disappeared, or so she said, and we couldn’t talk about it. 

Sick Dog Credit Devastation 

The sick dog applied for credit and was declined. That never happened! I learned she wasn’t paying the credit cards from a vet visit. I called godmother, and she said, “I’ve been meaning to call you; I haven’t been able to pay for the cards.” I said OKAY, thinking I could take care of those few cards. A few days later, she told me how many cards it was: I was stunned. A few cards somehow blossomed into twice as much, and still, we couldn’t talk about it. Trusting her had put me in place; only God could help me.  

Did I ever pray about mixing money in this relationship? No! But the Bible says if thou be surety for thy friend if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger. Funny how money matters make strangers. Whether you owe someone or they owe you, communication becomes non-existent. She was a financial advisor and a Christian. We became estranged family members in a matter of speaking.

Never too late to Pray!

Then I prayed! I was scared and afraid and, most of all, hurt. What happened? Why did she do this? After praying, I got peace, but nothing changed, at least outwardly. I sought out an attorney. I needed damage control. It wasn’t easy trying to figure out how to protect myself from some I loved and respected so much. 

26 years later

She kept her promise to repay me with a random phone call from her godmother. She asked me, “how much do I owe you?” I said I don’t remember; she said, “you don’t remember?” I said, “No, I couldn’t live there,” she said, “Figure it out and give me your banking info so I can send your money.” I said, “Praise God!” 

We conversed on the phone about our lives and kids and grandkids. She wired the money to my account. After she completed the wire transfer, she said, “well, my dear, I shall speak with you later. Bye.” The bye was so final finishing a chapter in a bittersweet journey closed with the debt paid, not just forgiven. 

Never Mix Relationships You Value with Finances

I reminisced on our brief conversation as I hung up the phone. I missed the godmother’s words of wisdom and wished I could see her again. Crazy right? But now, I felt she was sincerely remorseful over the situation. Perhaps, she didn’t mean to hurt me. Maybe the investments did go bad? But it didn’t explain the additional credit cards? I remembered how many things I learned from her as we talked and laughed. The money wasn’t worth the relationship lost.

I prayed that she would pay me back for many years, and when the day came, I knew God worked it out! Nobody else could pull off something of this magnitude. The creator of heaven and earth cares about every part of our life. He sent Jesus for us to have life abundantly. 

His Timing Is Always Sure!

http://covenantbooks.com/books/?book=journey-in-grace