Money Tantrums

We knew money would be tight when our housemate moved to London. Things became a little more frantic when our tenants in Australia gave us their 30 days notice before moving out. So when the letter arrived from Centrelink today, asserting that the government has mistakenly overpaid us $6,000 and would like it back rightnowthankyyouverymuch .... it was laugh or cry. Actually, in my case - tantrum, cry, laugh, in that order. I knew it was dangerous to share "It is well with my soul" as my favourite worship song at Bible study this week! (and the incredible and heartbreaking story behind it)

But it has reminded us that any money we have is God's, and he can have it back if he likes. Also, that he has blessed us with a house ... and he can have that back too, if he likes. It's a good reminder that what's ours is ... not really ours, but his. Because for some reason, when we are weak, it points people to God, and his strength.

Tim laughed that our reaction is like the kids demanding their dinner, not seeing the work we're doing behind the scenes to bring it to the table ... that everything we're doing in that moment is already for them, despite the tantrums, tears and long car trips. So my prayer tonight is for a heartfull of peace. It is well with my soul.

Postscript: having made the call to Centrelink, we discover the bill is due to our tax agent last year becoming disillusioned with the industry and resigning before having a chance to submit our tax return forms. It seems once that is sorted out, Centrelink will be appeased. God is good. And we caught two mice over the weekend, which means the plague of epic proportions is on it's way down. Hurrah. (for those perhaps planning to visit, we do not live in a mouse infested hovel. It is a nice English brick terrace house, and only slightly mouse-infested.)