Grateful for the Glass by Kim Jackson

Picture representative of Kim's Attitude, Not her car : )

A deer and a semitrailer combined forces to demolish my car last year (read about it HERE). 

I didn’t have a vehicle for six weeks, but on December 23rd I was given a car. I love the story of how I got the car, but I am not in love with the car. 

Let’s just say I wouldn’t have chosen a 1995 Pontiac Bonneville if I’d seen it on a car lot. But just because I wouldn’t have chosen Bonnie, the Christmas Car, (as she is fondly called), it doesn’t negate the fact she has been an amazing gift. 

Because of Bonnie, I’ve learned that a car is simply a mode of transportation that takes you from point A to point B. It doesn’t have to look great or have a single bell or whistle to get you where you need to go. 

Bonnie has been doing that for nearly a year, and I’m grateful for all the places she takes me. 

I was praying for a car and a story, and God gave me both. 

Consequently, I’ve had many opportunities to tell the amazing way God answered my prayer:

• I became friends with the family who donated the car, and their generosity birthed a wonderful Christmas story of their own. 
• I have no car payments, which is especially nice for a person who raises her own support, and because Bonnie is an older model, the insurance is low and property tax is practically non-existent. 
• Bonnie has acquired quite a collection of dents and dings over her 17 years, so I have freedom to park anywhere I choose without a single concern that someone’s car door will damage her. 
• The cassette player is a great conversation piece for young passengers who don’t have a clue what it is. 
• Each time Bonnie has mechanical issues, God provides someone to fix her, resources to pay for it, and another brag-on-God story to tell. 
• Because of Bonnie, I am more grateful than I was a year ago. 
• She is teaching me to squeeze every last drop of thanksgiving from life. 
• Without Bonnie, the truth of Colossians 4:2 in The Message would not be as meaningful to me: “Pray diligently. Stay alert, with your eyes wide open in gratitude.” 

But perhaps this brief conversation between two characters in Richard Paul Evan’s book “Miles to Go” best sums up the gift I’ve received from Bonnie the Christmas Car: 

“You're the type who thinks of the glass as being half full, instead of half empty.” 

"No," she said, "I'm just grateful for the glass.” 

A word from Gail, WOW editor: Kim is a self-supporting advocate for the homeless elderly in Romania. She lives more frugally than anyone I know. You can read more about her important ministry HERE. And please pray about giving Kim a Christmas gift to help with her living expenses. She is a "grateful-glass-gal" for sure, but Bonnie is no longer reliable transportation and several mechanics have told her not to put any more money into her.  

If you'd like to read more of Kim's wit and wisdom, subscribe to her new blog Wow Dee Wow, which posts a B.O.G. each Wednesday. Want to know what a B.O.G. is? Check out her blog.