Without a Hitch

There were tears in my eyes as I stood at the window watching Bob and Dad drive away with our camper in tow. It was time to tuck it in for winter storage. I could hardly believe it, not only the end of another camping season, but nearly the end of another year. My, how time flies.

Bob called to let me know when he was on his way home as we had a family Christmas party so that I would be ready when he returned. He also told me what he discovered when he got to the garage where we’re storing our camper.

“I walked around to the back of the truck and noticed that our hitch was only hanging about 4 inches above the ground. The hitch is almost totally rusted out. The only thing holding the camper on to the truck was the bumper.”

Nearly 5,000 pounds, empty weight. I thought of the hills we descended and climbed this summer, especially the lengthy trip we took for Mum and Dad’s 50th wedding anniversary, when we were loaded. I shuddered to think of what might have happened had the hitch broke and the bumper gave way. Granted, we do use weight distribution bars, which is what Bob attributes to our saving grace this past camping season. However, he didn’t use them when he drove it to storage, but what if he had? What if he had continued using them into next summer, how long would it have been until he discovered that the hitch was rusted? What if he hadn’t discovered it until the hitch broke? Would the camper have slammed into Mum and Dad who usually follow us? Would it have drifted into oncoming traffic? Good LORD, the possibilities for tragedy are endless! But God preserved us and those traveling the roads with us.

It gets even better. Where Bob took our camper, the guy “just so happened” to have a like new hitch, the type we need, and asked only fifty dollars for it. That Bob “just so happened” to have fifty dollars in his wallet when the offer came was a rare occasion indeed. Too many coincidences to not see God’s fingerprints all over the situation.

Before I go on, I want to share a video testimony with you.

I cried when I watched this. I was not only overwhelmed by the goodness of God but I was convicted for not being transformed in my mind enough to trust the LORD to take care so that I don’t have to. I realized that I was hauling behind me thoughts of the long winter stretching out before us; the need for coal, for heating fuel, for cooking fuel, and Bob’s thinking that we may need a new furnace. I mentally counted the savings that we have and projected that into the future, wondering how much, if any, would be left for next year’s property taxes and insurances. I actually began dreading the thought of having to go into debt for a new furnace without even knowing for sure that we need one! I felt my chest tighten with anxiety. Then I found this testimony.

Do you believe it? You don’t have to if you don’t want to, but I do. Once, many years ago, Mum heard a testimony about God’s provision. A shopping trip was upcoming. She knew what was in her wallet, she counted it when she left. My brother and I were little and there were certain things she needed. She put the items in the cart, not counting the cost, but reminded the LORD that He’d provided for others, she needed Him to do it for her. When she was at the checkout, the total came to more than she had. She looked in her wallet. It was not enough. She asked Dad if he had any money. “You know I don’t,” he said. One more time she rummaged through her wallet and there it was, the five dollars more that she needed.

“I counted my money before I left,” she said. “I know what I had, and I know it wasn’t there. But then it appeared. An angel?” Maybe. God, definitely.

 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Matthew 6:25-34 KJV

Take no thought.

Have you, like me, whether you are consciously aware of it or not, been hauling around a trailer full of worrisome thoughts? Are you taking care, when we are to cast our cares upon the LORD because He cares for us? (1 Peter 5:7)

Join me in cutting the hitch loose and be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2) by thinking these thoughts instead:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Philippians 4:8 KJV

I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving and want to thank you again for your positive feedback and encouragement. If you like, please share.

Now, let our lives begin and end with . . . GRATITUDE.