Since June, I have been frustrated that our painter has not come when he said he would.  In May, some rotten boards were replaced on the outside trimwork on our house.  The painter said he would be able to start painting the trim by the middle of June.  In July, he finally came around and pressure washed the siding.  His pressure washer broke at the beginning of the job and he had to rent another one.  A week later, he returned to finish the job.  A week after that, his helpers began sanding the trim.  After about an hour, they text-messaged him that they quit and walked off the job. 

In the meantime, I began thinking about a fellow church member who had been out of work because there weren't many jobs.  He had helped re-roof our house in May and was a hard worker.  In June, he had only been able to work two weeks because work was scarce.  Yet he managed to pay all his bills.  I asked my husband to ask the painter if he would be willing to hire him.  The painter said he would based on our word, knowing nothing about the guy.   He came to our house every day this week to sand the trim and porch rails.  He has been a hard worker and the painter told us he is better than any of his other laborer.

The guy told me that he had been in despair last week.  The bricklayer, whom he had been working for was leaving the next week.  He was his employer, the grandfather of his child, his mentor, the one who lifted him up and encouraged him and talked to him about the Lord.  He didn't know what he was going to do without him.  Then a job offer came along and his new employer prays with him in the mornings, talks to him about God, encourages him and tells him he will sell him land next to him if he continues to work as hard as he does.  What an answer to prayer!  The best part is that this painter has a lot of jobs lined up so this guy won't go hungry.

Now I am rejoicing that it took so long for my house to be painted.  It is being done according to God's timing, not mine.  He had a plan and it is being played out before my eyes.  I am grateful that these two found each other. The last thing the painter said to his worker before the job on Friday.  Remember two  things.  One, you are a child of God.  Two, you are a warrior!  The guy told me it was an awesome way to start his day.