A Tale of Gratitude

A Tale of Gratitude

Every once in a while, I am very aware of being blessed by God in a way that I could never had dreamed up myself. I choose to believe that my daughter, Margaret (who is in heaven), has something to do with these very serendipitous events. I can sense her presence and her good hearted and loud laugh coming down from above. There have been several of these events, which I call “God” things, that have happened since she left this earth in 2001.

This week, one more happened. It is quite a long story so I hope you hang in and read what happened. You will be entertained and encouraged, too.

God provides in ways that one could not simply imagine or make up!

Last week, I got a call from a man named Steve, who lives in Los Angeles. He asked if I had a license plate GR8FUL. I told him I did and he offered to buy it from me for a very generous sum. I replied that I needed a couple of days to think about it and that, if he would send me his contact information by email, I would get back to him in a few days. I also asked him why he wanted the plate. Steve explained that he had been very fortunate as he has built his businesses and he is very grateful that he is now in a place that he is able to purchase a sports car for himself. He wants to put the plates on his new red car.

I was also curious as to how he got my name and phone number and he replied, “Oh you would be surprised what you can find out on the internet.”

What Steve did not know was that I had just invested in an electric bed to help with some gastric reflux symptoms and it was very expensive. I have not bought any furniture for over 20 years and was some what shocked at  price. I knew I needed it and decided to go for it, anyway.  What Steve was offering was going to be a big help.

I did “Google” Steve and read about his company, Venstar, that makes very high end energy efficient thermostats.

A week went by and I did not hear, so I figured, he had gotten cold feet and decided not to buy the plate. What had really happened was that I missed his first email. On Tuesday, he sent another email, offering me an even  larger sum and came up with this plan. This is the amazing part. He was willing to do what ever made it easiest for me.

Here is a portion of his email. 

Elizabeth,

I have the form here to transfer the plates and I started to fill it out, then I thought about what needs to be done to replace your plates.

So, I called the DMV and after my conversation with them I suggest the following to make it easy on you:

1.       I make an appointment at the DMV office local to you.

2.       That day I fly to your location, pick you up give you the cash I promised and take you to the DMV.

3.       We take the form transferring the license plates (form#: REG 17) filled out and bring it to the DMV.

4.       At the DMV we submit the REG 17 form, pick up new plates for you and I pay all the fees.

5.       I take you to lunch if you like, then drop you off and put your new plates on your car.

6.       I fly home.

  

Then he said, “How about noon tomorrow?”

So, yesterday, Steve and a good friend and business associate, Terry, flew his 8 passenger private plane to Oakland. They then rented a car and drove to Marin. We met at the DMV and did all of the above.  

Yesterday, was such a lovely day. Steve is a quality person. He is a self made man and he has earned his ability to have a new “toy”.  His new car is a red Ferrari. I really liked him. We went to lunch at El Fornaio and enjoyed getting to know one another. Both of the men treated me like a queen. I could get use to this! 

He did reveal that he had hired a private investigator to find who owned GR8FUL. There are 13 Elizabeth B. Merriman’s in California. I was his 3rd call.

When I originally got this wonderful plate in 2008, the lady at the DMV could not believe my good fortune at having it available. As my daughter, Kate said, “Some Dead Head must have just died, Mom.”  I wanted the plate to share how important gratitude has been and continues to be for me. 

Having an attitude of gratitude has helped me through some rough places and always helps me to remember to look for the small things in life for which I am grateful. I write a gratitude list daily and have for over 23 years.

So that is the story. I now have a new plate, not personalized but just fine. My bed is 1/2 paid for and, once again, I am so aware that God watches out for me (with a little help from Margaret), and all is well.

It took me awhile to get this all down in this post. I hope you enjoyed reading it.

Here is the photo that Steve just sent me of his new Red Ferrari and his new plates.