Feeling Like a Modern-Day Job and Homeless

Not to make light of Job's ordeal, but I was beginning to feel a little like a modern-day Job from the Old Testament. While my situation was nothing like his, I did feel a bit challenged.

It all started with 3 bulging discs which worsened to the point I could barely walk, couldn't stand erect, and the pain became enough to send me to the doctors. Yes, as in plural.

Two rounds of epidurals of 4 shots in my lumbar spine (1 to numb and 3 in each disc) and 7 weeks (soon to be 9) of physical therapy at least have me walking again. But then there was another set-back not related to my back issues.

My HOA paints our townhomes every 7 years, and this is my year. We owners are responsible beforehand for any needed maintenance which means repairing any problems with siding or patio fences. My repairs just happened to be extensive this year, but that isn't a real part of my ordeal.

The siding contractor I chose did not do the best job. In fact, the dormer on my home had to be redone upon my insistence − it was awful. Then several other issues arose before I discovered my air conditioner stopped working. Calling a repairman after 5pm didn't fix the problem because we determined a nail behind the new siding punctured the Freon line. 

To make a long story short, a fix the next day didn't work because the puncture created a bigger problem in the coils, meaning an almost $1400 coil replacement or new system (mine was definitely of retirement age although it had been working fine). The contractor was out $650, but after weighing options, it was a no-brainer to replace the AC and furnace together. That was on me, but I couldn't get estimates until Monday and this was late Friday.  

Unlike Job, I was lucky enough to have family and friends who offered me a place to sleep. Unfortunately, all but one had stairs to their extra bedrooms, and my back issues prevented navigating those. 

My younger son and almost daughter-in-law offered me "the mother-in-law suite" at night, and let me hang-out there anytime I couldn't stand doing my necessary things at home where the inside temp reached up to 89 degrees. I felt a bit homeless in having to spend time elsewhere, but I thank God for providing me with a son who had accommodations to meet my needs. And, although I didn't like spending the unplanned extra money for the new system, I at least had it available to do so.

So what did my challenges teach me? It taught me how fortunate I really am. I didn't like the trials, but I discovered I could overcome them. I also gained, through experience, a deeper understanding of what those in need face. Regrettably, they don't have places to go when it's hot or money to make repairs as I did. 

Ultimately, God designed a way to take care of me through it all − family, friends, doctors, physical therapy, and a retirement fund courtesy of my late husband. While I know there are still obstacles to face, I do so knowing I am blessed.