Tuesday, April 19

Attempted Robbery

"The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them."

Right around 4am this morning, my husband left to put in a few hours of studying and working on homework at work (in silence) before his co-workers got to the office. I fell back to sleep. I woke up about a half hour later to the sound of someone trying to open our bedroom window. I heard the skidding of someones hand as it pressed against the window as they were trying to pry it open. Then I heard someone walking by on our balcony trying to open the front door. The sound woke me right up and my eyes popped open, my heart instantly began beating fast and I froze. I couldn't move because I was scared and then I started praying because I was freaking out and no one was here to protect me- I couldn't even protect me. It was just me, home alone and I don't even have a taser, a rape horn or a knife or anything.... NOT THAT IT WOULD HAVE HELPED MUCH....big ol' 5'0 pregnant me trying to fight off an intruder! I grabbed my phone and calmly called 911. I spoke quickly and pronounced every word of my address perfectly. The police were at my house in minutes checking everything out. 

After they left, I called Dustin to tell him what happened. 

He was shocked and wanted to pray right away. I was a little shaken up and a bit emotional (had I had my taser, I might have felt a little bit more like a bad ass....Remind me to put that on the grocery list next time I go to the store.) 

As we were praying, Dustin started sharing things in his heart that he needed to get off of his chest and make me aware of where his heart was. We started sharing things that we've been struggling with. For me, It's been my job. My roll as a Mom. Some days I'm just like, "UGH! God, the same thing over again!? Puzzles, Play Doh, Elmo....If I trip over one more toy and almost fall to my death, I SWEAR someone's going to have hell to pay! I'm tired, I'm annoyed, I'm impatient, I'm bored! My job sucks!" This has been my attitude. Instead of appreciating that I'M THE ONE who gets to love on my son everyday, that God has purposed ME to teach him his numbers and ABC'S not a daycare worker (bless them. I was a nanny for 6 years before I was a Mom and I fell in love with the kids I cared for. Day care workers are wonderful.) But being with him everyday is a blessing, not a curse. 

After Dustin shared his dirt and asked for my forgiveness, I shared mine. I admitted that yesterday after I was all played out and wanted some "ME" time,  I began obsessively cleaning my house as a way to escape my duties as a mom. I was ignoring my son & letting the TV babysit him. (It's probably OK to let my son watch an hour of TV while I do chores, but to ignore him for the majority of the afternoon, really isn't loving him like he deserves, OR how God calls me to love him.) The truth though is that the dishes can wait. He's only this little for so long. 

We talked about more than just my escape mechanisms, we talked about major heart issues that have kept us distant and built tall walls around ourselves leaving us leading two separate lives. I won't bore you with all of my garbage though... It's not that juicy. 

You think you can "hide" your sin or your short comings from your spouse but God only lets you live in that distance from one another for son long until He says "ENOUGH!" and uses things like almost getting robbed to renew your perspective, to renew your love, your marriage, your trust & to force you to look inward. It's strange that the knowledge of someone possibly breaking in and harming your family would be what makes a husbands heart cling to God, wanting not just the physical protection but also the spiritual. He knew that the intimacy in our relationship was being compromised and wanted to get us back on track. He knew that there were road blocks in our hearts keeping us far from God and far from each other. Things like that make me fall hopelessly in love with him even more. 

After we got off of the phone, I spent some time with God and he gave me this beautiful picture of his love for me. 

Psalm 34: I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. The poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.
I can't even begin to break down all of the promises I got from this verse about my life in it's current state. I certainly feel a renewed sense of freedom, protection and love today. AND I can't wait to put my Mommy hat on and snuggle my son when he wakes up! AND man, I love my husband.

Today is going to be a great day!

32 comments:

  1. I am so thankful that you are okay sweet friend. What a lovely story, I love the thoughts of you and Dustin praying together and taking this as a good opportunity despite how scary it may have been initially.

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  2. Thanks be to God for your safety Chels!
    When Eamon and I start to get into our dirt I always feel extremely exhausted, and half way through I always feel like "OHMYGOD!!! Why are we doing this NOW?!" And then I realize that's not me, that's Satan. SO proud that you would work through all of that after such an eventful morning.

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  3. You sound like my mom.

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  4. April, I'll take that as a complement (I hope.)
    ;)

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  5. Yes ma'am, You know how into God she is and she attributes everything in her life to him. Us girls definitely didn't turn out her like her. Like mother... not like daughter in our situation. Haha

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  6. Oh my goodness Chelsea! I can't believe that happened to you guys! Sounds like God used it to bring you two closer though. Wow. So glad you are safe!

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  7. WOW. It's amazing to me to see the faithfulness of the Lord in your marriage, holding you and Dustin together even more than yesterday and the day before, and knowing He will continue to do so tomorrow and the next day. I love you Chels.

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  8. oh my gosh chelsea! that is so scary. i am so glad that you are okay and so glad that you guys were able to to talk about things and work some things out because of it. i hope the rest of the day goes better for you guys!

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  9. I'm glad, very very glad, you're ok - spiritually, emotionally, physically. Amazing how God can use a robber to change something completely different. :)

    As a side note, I'm also really glad to hear the police were very prompt. That's encouraging!

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  10. I am SO sorry about that frightening ordeal you had to go through, but how wonderful is it that a) you and your family are safe and b) that you were able to let the Lord teach you a lesson and snap you back to reality because of it.

    How wonderful and mysterious God works to bring us closer to Him and to our most precious ones here on earth.

    I'm so happy you're ok!
    ~Andrea

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  11. how scary! i'm glad that you are ok!

    this was a beautiful and inspiring. thank you for sharing this.

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  12. Oh my gosh! I'm so glad you guys are ok! That is one of my fears, Someone breaking in! I guess you could say I'm a little OCD when it comes to locking doors and windows at night...I have pepper spray that is a million years old and I don't know how to use it so i guess 911 would be my best bet too, scary scary!
    Glad they got there quick!

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  13. Chelsea, we had our house broken into last year and it was incredible how God used that to strengthen our marriage, our family and our walk with the Lord. I found myself thanking God for what had happened. It wasn't just a home invasion, but God truly invaded our hearts and showed us His perspective. I blogged about it last year but it was right after it happened and after reading your post I think I need to do a follow up! God has continually taught us through that experience and it sounds like he is using yours to teach you guys great things as well.
    I love how God does that!

    Thanks for sharing! Praying for you guys today!!
    Here's my original post if you care to read.
    http://alanandjackie.blogspot.com/2010/11/home-invaded_10.html

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  14. Chelsea I love your heart! I am sooo happy nothing bad happened and that God used it to show yall some things. He is so good like that!

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  15. It is an absolute testament to making sure your windows and doors are locked. The robber couldn't find an easy way in and went off to the next house. I'm so thankful you are all okay!

    Many blessings to you on what is sure to be a great day!! :)

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  16. holy moly. i would've been so scared. you handled that like a CHAMP! love this post. love your heart. love that God brings us to himself, even if it has to come through a scary bad guy trying to get in your house :/

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  17. I love your honest REAL heart! I'm going to be honest, a few things you had to say here really STRUCK me deep. Thank you for the heart check. I need to do some praying and self assessment today. So glad you are okay! Praying for you!

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  18. Jackie, THANK YOU so much for sharing. Our god is so good isn't he?

    wow. I feel so much more alive and in love today than I did the day before.

    Oh, how he loves us and woo's us.

    It just blows me away.

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  19. Terrifying. I am so glad that you are okay and that the would-be intruder didn't make it inside. Also, so glad that you and Dustin were able to connect on such a deep level first things in the morning. I must confess that there is something about when my husband steps up as a spiritual leader and surrenders to God that makes me melt. As you progress in your pregnancy and welcome another little birdie into your nest, I hope that you are given many more moments of "melting" that really solidify your marriage in fresh new ways daily.

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  20. Loved your comment girl. Thank you! I pray for that too! Very much so!

    xxoxo

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  21. Love that verse and all of this. You are so honest and beautiful. I love reading your posts. They always inspire.
    Your little men are so lucky to have you, what a great foundation you are laying at home for your family.
    I love it.

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  22. And! that is scary. Glad you are safe. God is so good to us.

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  23. Beck, goodness girl, that was such a wonderful complement. What a blessing to hear that today. THANK YOU! thank you! Thank you!

    Wow. I'm all teary eyed with a lump in my throat.

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  24. so scary...and amazing in the end.

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  25. oh my...i definitely needed to read this. we got a really strange phone call the other night and i've had so much fear since. that verse in psalms is such a reminder that we are to have no fear but peace in Him.

    thank you for sharing and glad y'all are ok! :)

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  26. How terrifying! I'm so thankful to know that you found a positive outcome in a trying situation. Thinking of you.

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  27. thank god youre okay, this story is like every females worst nightmare :(

    <3 steffy
    Steffys Pros and Cons

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  28. Scary Chelsea. You know .. the other day, someone was literally banging on my front door. Not a nice knock. I seen NO cars outside. I shewed my dog down the stairs to get her to bark but she didn't .. They banged again & I grabbed my gun & had it pointing at the door. Then my dog decided to bark & I heard whoever was at the door whistle...then they left. I stood there for a moment before looking out & never saw anyone. This hasn't been the 1st weird experience for me in my house either..this was just the latest..ha. Anywhoo, glad everything is ok & God made sure he was watching out over you!.
    ~Tirzah~

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  29. I am SO glad you & your sweet Conrad are safe!!! I'm sure your sweetheart is grateful too! How wonderful that your prayed together right after :) Those scriptures you shared are beautiful...and you are a beautiful mother. I'm with you, trying to give Brooks more of ME, and remembering the dishes and sweeping can wait...and blogging too. welp, i've better go then! ;)

    much love to you Chelsea :)

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  30. At the beginning of this post I was terrified and all I could picture was the fear of someone 'coming in.' But half way through, reading the incredible love and intimacy with Dustin (God at the center of it) it was obviously less a post about the breakin and more about what God did. You are SO BLESSED to have the incredible relationship you do with your husband. So glad you guys are safe!

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  31. How SCARY! But it's amazing how it turned into such a beautiful reconnection and that you recognized that.

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