The Stove Delivery

A few weeks ago, my oven displayed a code and beeped incessantly.
It was a code we saw before.
There was a problem with the heat sensor.
My husband replaced the heat sensor once before.

Since the same code appeared, the same part was ordered.
You should be able to use it, now, my husband said after the part was installed.
We turned on the oven to test it.
No code appeared.

The next day, a young mom and her five children were coming over to visit.
I got up early and baked something pumpkin-y for them to enjoy.
I knew the house would smell delicious.
I knew the children would like this special treat.

Remembering what my husband said, I preheated the oven.
It reached 350 degrees quickly.
I put the pan with the pumpkin-y goodness in the oven.
Six minutes later the oven beeped with the same incessant beep when there is a problem.

I opened the oven door.
I was ready to continue the baking in my wall oven.
The top of the pumpkin-y goodness was burned.
It had burned in six minutes.

So much for the heat sensor repair.
I had to start over and bake something else that morning.
My stove would have to be replaced.
My husband was away on business so buying a new stove would wait until he returned.

I am not a fan of bells and whistles when it comes to appliances.
I like things simple.
I do not want the newest, fanciest appliance.
I want one that is efficient and will last for many years.

I selected a new stove.
It was to come in within the week.
A delivery date would be set up at that time.
I got that call that the stove had arrived.

I was amazed that I could have the stove delivered the next day.
I was to receive a call telling me the two hour window of time to expect delivery.
The call never came.
I had to call the tool-free number to find my delivery window.

My delivery window was to be between 8:00 and 10:00 that morning.
My husband left for work and I did things around the house while I waited.
About 9:00, I received a phone call.
The delivery driver had a family emergency and my delivery would be delayed.

By noon, I had not heard anything and decided to check.
The delivery company told me that they were trying to get another driver.
A family member of the first driver was in a car accident.
I began to pray.

By 2:00, the delivery company called me.
They told me that my stove would not be arriving that day.
They wanted to schedule a delivery time for the next day.
Since I teach Bible study in my home, I said it would have to be in the afternoon.

A notation was made that my delivery window would have to be in the afternoon.
The woman assured me there would be no problem.
That night the automated call came through informing me of my delivery time.
The two hour window was schedule for the morning when all the women would be here.

I called the delivery company again and told them of the problem.
They could not change the time of the delivery window.
They would have to change the delivery day.
The day after Bible study was my new scheduled day.

The automated call never came until the morning the stove was to arrive.
The delivery window was in the morning.
Right on time, the truck pulled into my driveway.
One of the delivery men came in to see where the stove was to be placed.

I mentioned that the stove was really supposed to be delivered two days before.
The original driver had a family emergency, I said.
That was me, he said.
I was praying for you, I told him.

You were? He asked, somewhat surprised.
His whole countenance changed.
A smile came to his face.
She’s OK, he said, as if I knew who he was talking about.

A car hit her from behind and pushed her into another car, he explained.
It could have been much worse; she just hurt her arm and her shoulder, he continued.
I am glad she’s OK, I said, I was praying.
Thanks a lot, he said as he moved my old stove out of its place.

Another man came into my house and both of them removed my old stove.
Within minutes, the new stove was brought inside.
He slid it in place and made sure it was level.
At least you weren’t mad at me, he said looking at his partner.

Mad at you? I asked, confused.
Yeah, people were so mad that their delivery did not arrive, he informed me.
I did a double shift yesterday to make up for the day I missed and they were still mad.
His partner spoke up.

How about that one delivery? He asked his partner as they both made a face.
You were without a stove and you didn’t complain, he remarked.
The person who was the maddest was waiting for a wine cooler! He said with emphasis.
A wine cooler that was going in the basement, he said.

They didn’t even care that she was in an accident, he said still assuming I knew who he meant.
I’m glad that she is OK, I said.
I’m glad that you prayed, he said.
He continued to check to make sure my stove was level.

As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you.
(1 Samuel 12:23)

It matters when we pray.
It matters to God.
It matters to the person for whom we are praying.
It matters to us, since prayer teaches us to rely on the Lord even as we intercede for another.

I am glad that I prayed as well.
I am glad the family member of the delivery man is fine.
I am glad that I could tell him that I prayed and mean it.
We never know how far the ripples of our prayer will reach.