Positive Scripture; About the Book

Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 

 

I chose the following because it relates to my memoirs (soon to be released; Avventura Press) called 'Christ for Carnies'. The story begins with the loss of jobs due to the begining of the economoic downfall in florida, 2008.  My family, a typical, average American family, felt the effects keenly; we not only had to move into my parents house with a 2 year old, but just over a year later, another child was added to the mix.  Desperate for work to support his family, My husband, John, turned from the defunct roofing industry, to working as a carnie for a full season.

 

    The day after I dropped him off at the gate and began a life of a married single mom our lives drastically changed.  Nearly freezing to death, my husband called me with the request for blankets and a heater, stating he had nearly froze to death, and cracked open a George Foreman Grill for heat.  He told me stories of many who thought they would freeze, and a call to the Pastor resulted in a Prayer to the Lord and a miracle-enough blankets, sheets, etc. for all 350 workers, and then some. That, was just the begining of the mini-mission, Christ for Carnies, in 2009.

 

  Blankets soon became canned goods, clothes, and a dip behind the scenes in the carnie world few had ever seen. Learning about teardown; where, at the last day of the fair and a ten/twelve plus hour shift; the men and women begin the real work-tearing down the rides as the fair goers head home with wonderful memories and dreams of the next year.  Sweat, blood, tears flow the night and well into the next day-a non stop, 48 hour run to get to the next spot.  It was the most humbling experience to see how a few free bottles of water, donated sandwiches from kind-hearted folks who took an hour to make them, and some much needed coffee running through the grueling night  could make such a difference.

 

 The lord has many plans, and some we are never meant to understand.  In the middle of the season, my husband switched to a bigger show for more pay, and left me and my children at my mothers house for the rest of the year. Or, so we thought. My mother's death a mere month later placed my two youngest children and I without a place to call home.  I left the state, leaving my oldest behind with his father, and headed into waters unknown, only the Lord to guide me.  For a month I was lost, but a visit to the Statue Of Liberty soon reminded me of the utmost sacrifice our many ancestors had when they saw the Lady for the first time; many with just the clothes on thier back, what family had survived with them; a dream, and nothing but the future in sight, so help them God. This revelation had me racing towards my husband- to stand up with my man, keep our family together, and cling to GOD, while making the CHOICE to help all those we could along the way, even though we ended up in what is called 'The Devil's Playground'.

 

How did it all end? Did we loose our faith? Keep our trust in the Lord, or succum to the dangerous traps of sin that abound? Will our story inspire people to realize that, just a little bit of thier time, talent, or even a blanket, can make all the difference to one another? Just have to wait and see when the book is released near the begining of summer, 2011.