WOW Incredible

I don’t think I would throw them away. They aren’t under the seat. Nowhere in the car. Can’t find them anywhere in the house. Father, help me find mom’s death certificates.

Finally, after 3 weeks, a letter from the shop that was checking out my lawn tractor. It should not be bad as they said it was just water in the gas. $582.00!!! Father.

The next several hours I ate ice cream and chips while reading a novel and weighing in my mind what I can do about this $600 bill. About 11 p.m. I finally settled my problem-solving mind by handing it to Father to handle.

Sunday afternoon I mulled over how to approach this issue on Monday. Surely diagnosing water in the gas could not cost this much. The bill did not itemize the charges. If I cannot get the service technician to be reasonable, then I will appeal to the shop owner. Again, I turn it to you, Father, to handle. $600.

Monday morning, I choose to speak with Father for a few minutes and then headed to the shop. Opened the truck door for Barnabas to jump in and there is the large envelop with the death certificates. Wow, thank-you Father. Once again you made the axe head float. As I drove to the shop, I pondered how I should approach this? “A soft answer turns away wrath.” Whispered the Spirit. “Perhaps this meeting is to bless the service manager.” Ok, I hear you. Where did I put that invoice? Dummy, you left it at the house!

All the way to the shop I was asking Father to go before me and to calm my anger. Instead of storming into the shop waving the invoice, I decided to set aside that I had received the invoice and start fresh. Parking outside, I said, “Father, you need to go before me on this.”

Steven: “Good afternoon. When I called last week, I was told that the issue with my tractor was just water in the gas and was expecting a call back with the final cost.”

Service Manager: “I apologize, that was me and I did not get back to you. Let me see what the outcome was. OK, it was running rough and so we performed a diagnostic, found water in the gas tank, siphoned the gas tank, changed the fuel filter, and refilled the gas tank. Add the maintenance of changing the plugs, sharpening the blades, and leveling the cutting deck would come to $580.00. The maintenance work has not yet been done but we can get that turned around today.”

Steven: “Ouch. So what is the cost for just the diagnostic and replacing the gas? I can do the maintenance. How does the extended warranty factor into this charge?”

Service Manager: “You have a warranty? Let me see. Ok, what you bought was an extension to the manufacturer’s warranty. Since you did not authorize the maintenance, we won’t do that. Hmm, it appears that some of the labor for the maintenance was charged to that line. Since you did not authorize any additional work, anything done would be at our cost.”

Steven: “Ok, so what is the bottom line?”

Service Manager: “Taking out the maintenance, hm-mm, well, it looks like you owe us nothing. If you receive a bill in the mail, just ignore it as we have just taken care of it today. If you would pull around to the shop door, we will get your tractor loaded.”

Steven: “Huh? Well that is a whole lot different than $580. Thank-you. I’ll pull around.”

As I was driving away, I thanked Father for clearly going ahead of me. And was kicking myself for worrying instead of trusting Father earlier and waiting on Him. Father solved the problem in a way I had not imagined.

I need to tell someone what Father has done.