I had a horrible, terrible, awful, very bad, no good day.

I had a horrible, terrible, awful, very bad, no good day.

But ...

I woke up to a bill collector calling me. "Yes, I know it’s past due, yes I plan on paying it, no I can’t pay the whole thing, Yes I will be there today." I didn’t have enough money. I know we’ve all been there, done that. There are reasons, but it all boils down to the fact that I am a nice person that I have short changed my bill money.

So I am embarrassed, I work very hard long hours every week to take care of myself. I do a fine job usually. I humbly go to the teller and offer my meager money to spread over my bills. Now I just need to find $475.00 stuck in a pocket somewhere to cover the rest that I promised them before the end of the month. I’m totally frustrated, mad, angry, crying, embarrassed and not knowing where I’m getting the money from ...

So ...

I am driving away from the bank and I asked God to help me out of this pickle I done got myself into doing what the good book says to do. I forgot to look out for myself I told him, and that’s the truth.

Well, I was fumbling around in my purse for my ringing telephone and I happened across a lottery ticket I had forgotten to scratch off. Wouldn’t you know that God has a sense of humor? I won $36.00. I told Him that was very funny and I reminded Him of the figure I needed, like He didn’t already know ...

Then ...

I went on to work (my little part time job) and my boss asks me what the hell is the matter with me. "You look like hell!" I guess this was the wrong (or right) thing to say to me because I unloaded it all on him. How I wound up in the predicament I found myself in today. The bank lady, the promise, all of it. All of it except for the amount of money I needed. Bless his heart, he listened to all of it. He told me then that he never paid me for a job I did back in August for him. He was right about that. He didn’t. We had both forgotten until right then. It was $175.00 that he owed me. He also paid me for the week, which was a slow week, but it came to $150.00.

Okay so ...

On my way home I stopped by the party store to cash in the lottery ticket and as I was pulling it out of my wallet, I see a check my mother had written me for $70.00 that I never cashed. I’m exhausted from the emotional turmoil I have put myself through today, and the day ain’t over yet. I don’t add up the money. I go by the bank to deposit the uncashed mother check and I run into my neighbor who says, "Hey Tammy, I was just coming over to your house. I have the money for you." Money? I’m thinking.... "The $45.00 you loaned me. I told you I’d pay it back on payday, well it’s payday." I thank him and stuff it into my purse.

Coffee and Motrin and ....

I calculate the money. $36.00 + $175.00 + $150.00 + $70.00 + $45.00 = $476.00

I’ll be back at the bank tomorrow morning, to pay my bills in full.

Who said God doesn’t listen?

Do you think I might be pushing my luck if I take the $1.00 and buy a lottery ticket?