Delores Liesner
Activating Faith in everyday life
Starting Over
What joys and struggles our niece and her family have gone through to reach this long 
awaited goal – their new home. When first married the husband’s job transfer took them out of state. Finally settled, they went into the city for her job interview and while there, lightening struck their apartment complex, destroying all their possessions – even their precious kitten. What could they do but start over? Gradually they rebuilt their lives and expanded their families with a little girl. Work, plus the commute didn’t give the family much time together. Daddy’s subway commute to work ended at the twin towers, so they decided as often as they could to go early as a family and breakfast together at a little spot beneath the tower, then Daddy would go off to work from there, Mom and daughter could pick up any necessities and return home. The night before 9-11 baby was fussy and the exhausted couple overslept. They awoke to the devastating news of the 9-11 attack, and realized that if they’d awakened on time, they would have been beneath the towers. Grieving the great loss with the rest of America, they soon had to grieve Daddy’s job too – like many other companies that needed to rebuild, jobs were eliminated. What could they do but start over? The importance of family rose through new heights, and when a new job was offered back in the area where they married, they returned to Florida. They gradually rebuilt their lives again and at long last moved to a lovely apartment complex. Here their family expanded by another daughter and a son. The only drawback from this location was that Daddy’s aging parents were in another state 
about 14 hours away. Their vacations and job searches focused on getting near Daddy’s parents – especially when his mother had a life-threatening crisis. While on one of their trips to visit his parents, a new challenge was literally spreading over their sweet apartment. Apparently one of the renters in their multiple-apartment complex had bedbugs and improperly sprayed without contacting the manager to properly seal off the area. Instead of being eradicated, the bugs spread to other apartments, and our niece and family came home to a condemned apartment building. Once again everything was destroyed. It was heart rending to lose baby mementos and all property except what they had taken on vacation. It was heartbreaking to discover their insurance considered the loss an ‘act of God’ and would not reimburse anything. What could they do but start over? While staying with friends, word spread of their need and someone mentioned a trailer that was available, so they loaded the mattresses and other gifts they’d received from friends and family and relocated again. A few months later, they thought there must be a mistake with the $600-$800 electric bills, but a utility company survey said the property and window air conditioner were old and there was not anything that could be done to reduce that expense. Scrimping to cover their debt the little family determined to find a way out, and to get near to Daddy’s parents. Their prayers 
were answered with a job transfer a couple hours away from parents, where a lovely home now awaits their arrival. A couple of the people involved in the purchase proceedings were going to sell some furniture to them, but instead called and said, just come, we will have a surprise for you. Their faith and determination have carried them through some big storms. We are almost there and eager to see their surprise and, this time, a joyful starting over. I have her mom with me. Tomorrow about this time we will get to join them to celebrate their fresh start. Lam. 3:22-23 The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Thy faithfulness. 
Today – and each day – is an opportunity to start over! Has there been a time when you had to start over?
6 Comments on “Starting Over”
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Be the Miracle! – with journaling pages
Delores Liesner: Author
American Christian Fiction Writers Association
Delores Liesner 
Oh yes, I have had this opportunity a couple of times, and God has always provided! My current situation is a starting over of my own choosing, and not one of losing everything. It is exciting to see how God provides, isn’t it? Thanks you for sharing this blessing with us. What a lovely piece of property!
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7 ~Joyce
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Yes, Joyce, though sometimes painful it is exciting to look back and see how our experiences have been clarifying (or refining as your blog so aptly puts it). Thanks for stopping by!
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The Lord is so good. What a beautiful story!
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Thanks, Mary. We are eager to experience the reality! D
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I love this story of God’s faithfulness. And that house is adorable! Thanks for sharing this with us!
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We are excited to see the results of years of prayer! Thanks, Linda for stopping by. Glad to hear their story blessed you.
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