Could Have Been Shot & Killed
My family had a great vacation planned many months ago. It was at a very discounted rate and connected to a timeshare presentation. We were staying in a two bedroom unit with a pool, hot tub, and large indoor water park for the kids. Inside the condo style room was a full kitchen, living room, and jacuzzi tub. I knew I would be spending hours as usual in that tub no matter what the others were doing. I was just glad to be there with them.
Due to my health condition I knew we had to do everything with much forethought. I knew my wife had to do the driving there and back. I knew I would spend most of my time either in the bed, a hot tub or pool. I knew the pool and inside water park would keep the family nearby most of the time. I knew it would not cost much money and everyone would have some quality family time together. However, most of that changed after we checked in at the welcome center.
We arrived around 4pm on Monday and were told that the facility we secured over 7 months ago was accidentally over booked. The only option we were given for our family size was nearly forty minutes away from the original location. Upon arriving we discovered no pool, no hot tub, and two small inside tubs that could not even hold water. This place was in the middle of nowhere. I knew we were in trouble when we arrived. Everything we had planned changed in a moment.
The water park my 8 year old was so excited about enjoying daily was now 40 minutes away. No pool or hot tub meant very little quality time together. Without any functioning tub my body has absolutely broken down on me. All I can do is load up on muscle relaxers and sleep. Even now they are out together and I’m stuck in a room that is like a prison of constant suffering due to my extensive nerve damage. All I wanted was for them to have a great time and to occasionally enjoy a meal or pool time together. Earlier we realized even the gift card we were given for going through the timeshare presentation was $100 short what they promised.
I must add the most unbelievable piece to this situation. The place we’re staying requires codes to get in each unit. We were given the code for room 143. After getting off the elevator me and my oldest son were the first into the 2 bedroom unit. When we got into the bedrooms there were clothes and other personal belongings everywhere. That’s when we realized we were given the code to someone else’s place. Fortunately, no one was in there at that time. I’m convinced we would have either been jumped or shot for breaking and entering into someone else’s property. We soon discovered by phone that we were actually supposed to be in room 123. Little did we know this would be the icing on the vacation cake from Hell. Everyone has tried their best to make the most of the disappointment. I can promise you this won’t break our resolve to seek and do God’s will.
I don’t know what God has in store. But, I know it must be amazing. The devil has been absolutely relentless in trying to break us down with every step. All I can do is process it hour by hour. It’s knocked the breath out of me so many times. I’m fighting with all I’ve got to get better and most often just hold on to Jesus. No matter what I know that giving up is not an option.
“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” (Galatians 6:9)
Pastor Craig Crosby 