Skip to main content

The Pontoon Boat




It sticks out like a sore thumb, the pontoon boat, right in the center of their property.  We have to drive past their estate on the bend in order to get to our homes and the pontoon is in full view.

This is country living.  There are no HOA restrictions that bind us so therein lay a mixture of beautiful homes and neatly kept gardens dwelling alongside residents that look like they’re preparing for a garage sale at dawn.  Rebels like us purchase property here.  We don’t mind guns shooting off in the distance just over the hill and the sound of goats, donkeys, horses, dogs or the roosters crowing before sunrise.    Owners of RV’s or flat bed trucks are held in high esteem among these country folk.   Our road association meetings are a hoot, but that’s a story for another time.

We passed the pontoon property, my neighbor and I, after our workout in the park one morning.  Renie got quiet and asked:  “Should I knock on their door and introduce myself to them and ask them if it would be possible to move the boat to another place on their property, less noticeable?” 

“Hmm, let me think for a minute,” I replied.

You see, it’s been two years now since the disaster family vacation in Lake Havasu City claimed the life of her 9 year old daughter.  The accident happened on a pontoon boat.  Every day is difficult and passing by the boat, you can imagine, is a painful reminder.

I replied:  “We have no idea how the owners (of the boat) will respond and I really don’t think it should be you that approaches them.”  At the risk of sounding like I’m copping out, I suggested we not do anything until we pray about this and listen to what God tells us to do.  She agreed, teasing me how I pray about … everything. 

But are we in control of anything?   Nobody likes the pause button.   I don’t either.

I prayed every time I drove past the boat.

It's gone!  Did someone buy it? 


There for a while, I didn’t see it.  I hoped someone gave an offer for the boat the neighbor couldn’t refuse. 


The boat returned!   I’m disappointed.

We wait for direction.  Patience is working in us.  But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.  James 1:4

A thorough work:  what does it mean?  Could God be healing Renie’s heart regardless of the visual every day?  We know one thing.  He is working all things together for good for His children who love Him.  He’s a good God and He has the perfect answer. 

We just haven’t….. grasped it yet….

“Sometimes
 God doesn't change your situation
Because

 He is trying to change your heart.”

                Pinterest

Comments

  1. bettyAugust 16, 2015 at 11:36 AM

    I think you were wise to pray and to continue to pray about the boat. I can't imagine the pain of losing a child at such a young age. I do agree God is working in each and every situation of our lives; I'm sure the outcome of this will be amazing on how a heart can be healed and perhaps an outreach of a ministry making contact with whoever owns that boat. You'll have to keep us updated about it :)

    betty

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saleslady371August 16, 2015 at 12:14 PM

      Hi, Betty!
      This is one of those stories that doesn't have an ending yet...like our lives. We're living each day by God's grace. How will He end it? This situation already has provoked many opinions with those I've share it with. I can't wait to see the comments on it. Thank you for yours!

      Delete
  2. Mevely317August 16, 2015 at 4:14 PM

    What a conundrum, Mary ... loose ends can be incredibly frustrating! I wonder if the boat's owner is even aware of that accident; and that Renie lives nearby. Personally, I'd be aghast. (Well, I think most of us would be.)

    In the end, I'm always comforted by Psalms' admonition not to lean on our own understanding.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saleslady371August 16, 2015 at 4:40 PM

      Boat's owner is not aware, Myra! Boat is still there in full view but I loved Renie's response last week..."It's okay," she said! God's grace for sure.

      The Psalms comfort me too..so much!

      Delete
  3. LindaAugust 16, 2015 at 4:58 PM

    Whether or not the boat's owner is aware of this, God is definitely aware and He is in control. So nice to see a post from you, Mary! God bless you. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saleslady371August 16, 2015 at 7:11 PM

      A very good point, Linda. He will lead us too! Thanks for your visit!

      Delete
  4. ButtercupAugust 16, 2015 at 7:11 PM

    My prayers that the boat finds a new home with someone who is praying for a boat!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saleslady371August 16, 2015 at 7:15 PM

      I'm agreeing with you on that one, Carol. Everybody would be happy!

      Delete
  5. DeniseAugust 17, 2015 at 2:07 AM

    you are a precious prayer warrior.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saleslady371August 17, 2015 at 6:46 AM

      Hi, Denise!
      Prayer is the mighty power I want in my life!

      Love you,
      Mary

      Delete
  6. Nancy ChanAugust 17, 2015 at 6:27 AM

    I think you gave the right answer to your friend. Everything, big and small, we bring to God and He will make a way. Let God's will be done, He knows best the best way to bring healing to your friend with or without the pontoon in sight.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saleslady371August 17, 2015 at 6:47 AM

      Thank you for your beautiful comment, Nancy. Indeed God is the healer and His ways are many.

      Delete
  7. a joyful noiseAugust 17, 2015 at 10:02 PM

    I would certainly get to know these neighbors before making any request to move the boat. Perhaps God is working this out in His own way. You are wise to pray before you act. Thank you for sharing your inspiring story with us here at “Tell Me a Story."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saleslady371August 19, 2015 at 4:03 PM

      I know right???? They have every right to have it and have it anywhere on their property. But if they really knew....would they feel the burden somehow?

      Delete
  8. Wise HeartedAugust 18, 2015 at 2:13 PM

    “Sometimes
    God doesn't change your situation
    Because

    He is trying to change your heart.”
    Wow, this will preach...or teach...and going to post it on my fb tomorrow...good post

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wise HeartedAugust 18, 2015 at 2:13 PM

    “Sometimes
    God doesn't change your situation
    Because

    He is trying to change your heart.”
    Wow, this will preach...or teach...and going to post it on my fb tomorrow...good post

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saleslady371August 19, 2015 at 4:05 PM

      What's funny is how I've felt this is what God is doing and all of a sudden there was the quote right in front of my eyes! God thing.

      Delete
  10. caryjoAugust 19, 2015 at 2:15 PM

    As usual, you shared and explained re: situations and strong necessity. Thank you, Dear.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saleslady371August 19, 2015 at 4:06 PM

      You're welcome and thank you for stopping by and reading my story!

      Delete
  11. AnonymousAugust 19, 2015 at 6:43 PM

    Wise and powerful, Mary. I'm encouraged and reminded of what my immediate reaction to all scenarios in life should be; seek God's will first. Oh, if only I'd have done that for more of this life...

    I'm praying for your neighbors... I've lost a friend in Lake Havasu... I couldn't imagine one of my girls.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saleslady371August 20, 2015 at 8:05 PM

      Your encouraging comment took me by surprise. I would have guessed you would take a more aggressive approach for some reason! :} You're mellowing with age...Thx for prayers for this family; I can see the difference! Sorry you lost someone.

      Delete
  12. CeilAugust 20, 2015 at 10:36 AM

    Hi Mary! Your prayers are so powerful, I think you should just keep up storming the heavens. I'm so sorry for your friend though, my heart just goes out to her. I can't imagine her pain.
    I'm so grateful that she has you for a friend. I know you will be a wonderful support, both in prayer and in exercise to her. Your friendship truly blesses her.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saleslady371August 20, 2015 at 8:08 PM

      God put Renie and I together, Ceil! We joke all the time how we would never have imagined such a friendship! I love your tender heart for the hurting and your encouragement to me to stay the course.

      Delete
  13. KunoSeptember 17, 2015 at 7:52 PM

    It sticks out like a sore thumb, the pontoon boat, right in the center of their property. We have to drive past their estate on the bend in order to get ... 1pontoonboats.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Eliza CranstonOctober 12, 2015 at 5:27 AM

    Thank you for sharing yours and Renie's story about the pontoon boat! It's lovely to see the caring way in which you approach your relations with other people as well as to see the way you apply prayer to things as seemingly mundane (though personally significant) as a pontoon. This is my first experience with your blog but I will continue to read it in the future! http://prestigepontoons.com.au/gallery/piled-pontoons/

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Surprise at the Mall

I lost touch with a writer friend.  I missed her and her cheerful blog posts.  We met up in a most unusual way!  I’m still in awe of how it happened. I finished my shopping at the mall and took a short cut to get to the parking lot.  The path led me through the food court.  The smell of Chicken Fajitas stopped me in my tracks.  I planned lunch elsewhere, but now I followed my nose. I chewed my first bite of chicken taco salad when, out of nowhere, a loud redhead moved rapidly past the tables and into the booth with me.  “I know you !”  She shouted.  I pondered if I knew this crazy lady.  Did she mistake me for someone else?  She shouted louder and stuck her finger in my face:  “ You’re Mary; you have a blog called Pile of Smiles and you live in the Verde Valley .”   It took me a second to compose myself.  I stopped chewing my food.  I know I stared too long at her face and then she said:...
48 comments
Read more

Mama's Lipstick

I always wished I could do things with my mom like shop in the mall, share makeup secrets or go to the movies and watch romantic comedies.  My wish never materialized.     My mama behaved like a tomboy.   She loved baseball and pitched with a strong right arm.   She could care less about the latest fashion or the latest movies featured on the big screen.   She never polished her fingernails.    One day after elementary school, I walked into the house to find my mom all dolled up in front of the bathroom mirror, foundation crème, powder, eyebrow pencil and rouge all over the counter sink.  “Who are you?” I asked, thrilled to see my mama putting on the Ritz.  Makeup in place and blotted, she immediately took it off.  “I don’t like the way it feels,” she exclaimed. She retired in Arizona and protected her dry lips with a light rose lipstick, the color of natural lips, a step above ChapStick.  She wore it a few tim...
55 comments
Read more

Hitched to a Rough Road

Photo Credit:  Peggy James I got his email and wanted to shout:  “Hey, buster, does the phrase “continued behavior pattern” mean anything to you?  But I didn’t. Travis is at it again.  His email revealed a litany of complaints about our neighborhood, our country road, our board officers, bad decisions made that will cost him money , yada-yada-yada . Travis is a Christian brother but you’d never know it. He is a large, loud man who shoots his mouth off as often as he shoots his guns back here in the hills.  He interrupts at our road meetings and, like a typical hothead, he speaks truth but with a tone that makes me feel like I need to duck in case some of his words fly at me and smack me upside the face. I thought we were making progress, but we’re not. It is our rough road that brings us together .  Last year we picked up the neglected pieces of our road association.  We agreed to assemble once again to talk, make decisio...
37 comments
Read more