Mr. White and I received our first car as a wedding present. It was an old car given to us by an Aunt. She had decided to buy a new one, and gave us hers. Over the years, we have been driving beat up cars, that were beyond second-hand.
One of our vehicles had doors that wouldn't open. We would be all dressed up, with our two little girls (at the time). Mr. White would hand me one of the children (a toddler or a preschooler) through an open window, and I would reach back and buckle them in. We certainly had our dignity and a sense of humor!
I remember once, in the early 1990's, getting a few thousand dollars as a tax refund. We used most of this money to actually buy a decent vehicle from the friend of a relative. It was a small, cream colored, station wagon. I was amazed! It was old, but beautiful to me. It lasted a few years, before it was totalled in an accident. (A drunk driver had crashed into my husband and put him in the hospital. His recovery took several months.)
Insurance money provided us with another used car. This one was an old mini-van. By the time we were forced to give it up, it required a screwdriver to start!
One year, my husband bought a large, old conversion van for under $100. We loved going for rides in it, with all of our (by then) five children. My husband used it for commuting to work. I never drove it. I was too afraid to drive a large van!
At one point, we had one dead car, and one barely running car. I became very ill and couldn't walk without assistance for a month. After some weeks, my husband's co-worker mentioned he was getting a new car, and did we want his old one for free? That was such a great blessing!
I remember, a few years ago, my husband came home with a beautiful pastel purple Cadillac with white leather seats. It was very old and cost under two grand. We had our tax refund money and he wanted to ask me if we should buy it? I didn't hesitate. Of course! It was lovely and seemed like such a treat! I loved riding in that car with him. He used it for commuting. I never drove it, myself, because I am terrified of driving large vehicles. But I loved having him as my chauffeur. This car now sits in a carport. . . Pretty to look at. . . but worn down so much that it can't be driven.
We've certainly had our fun adventures with cars, but we've never had a car payment. We could never afford it. To us, that is for those "rich" people. (gentle smiles) Or, the middle class. It is a way of life for them. As for the White House, we have no idea what will happen to us tomorrow, financially, and can't promise to make those monthly payments. This is poverty. But it is also an adventure in faith.
Why am I writing all this out? We have been having major car trouble, and it is only getting worse. My current car was bought by one of my children in early 2008. It was old then. She bought it for me to drive her to college and to do errands with her. At the time, we had no money, but she did. She paid cash from a year of hard work. This precious child gave that car to me after a couple of years. But now it is needing to be replaced.
The last few months, I have been wavering in my faith. How will I drive the children to church and their activities? How will I take them to appointments and do our grocery shopping? We live in a rural area with no public transportation. A running car is an absolute necessity. It is a basic need.
This morning, an answer came. . . I must take care of the car I have, even if it is falling apart, and making alarming noises (gentle smiles). Today, when we do an errand, we will stop and get it all vacuumed out. We will polish the dashboard and the windows and keep it as nice as we can. We will take care of it, and continue to drive it, and do the best we can with the repairs, until the Lord brings our next vehicle. Our faith in Him is the hope for those of us in poverty. We know He can do all things. We know He is the one who feeds the sparrows and watches over us. . . In the meantime, I will love the car I have, and I will take care of it. . . and I will wait upon my Lord.
Blessings
Mrs. White
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