Blog #5: Chapter 2 of Romans Book: Hannah and the Coat of Comfort by Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy

Blog #5:



Chapter 2:

Hannah and The Coat of Comfort

CHAPTER INFORMATION:
BOOK TITLE: The Book of Romans: Truth From Fiction Series Book 1
STORY TITLE: Hannah and the Coat of Comfort
DATE: 22 October 2009 Thursday
TYPE OF STORY FOR THIS CHAPTER: Fiction
IT IS A NEW OR ON-GOING STORYLINE?: New
GENRE: Fiction; Adult Contemporary; Christian General Fiction
LAST TIME THIS STORYLINE WAS USED: N/A. It's new.

OPENING VERSE:
Psalm 71 from the NLT states,
20 You have allowed me to suffer much hardship,
but you will restore me to life again
and lift me up from the depths of the earth.
21 You will restore me to even greater honor
and comfort me once again.

This is a story based off of my life, of course. I changed some details, but did so to make a point. After all, what's important are the spiritual lessons learned from it.

Hannah Howard grabbed her mug of steaming coffee and headed to her favorite upholstered chair in front of her gas fireplace and decided to sit back and do some journaling. God worked in her life in some mighty and powerful ways the last couple of weeks and overnight in particular. She wanted to record her just made memories with God before she lost or forgot them. It was important to her to remember what God has said to her, what they have experienced together, and how He's worked in, through, and around her.

Therefore, she reached for her favorite pen and her journal. What was it about the feel of each in her hands which brought her a sense of peace and an automatic connection with God? Then again, that was always her objective, so she really shouldn't find it surprising. Yet, she did. She found everything about God amazing and hoped she never lost the sense of wonder. That was another reason why she journaled.

Here's what she wrote on this day:

When I was in the process of moving from Grand Lake, Colorado to Minnesota, and two different climates, I realized something. I lacked a very warm and heavy coat to get me through a moist winter. I was sued to a dry winter where a medium in thickness coat was just fine to get through most of the season. Sure, there a few cold spells where I'd add layers underneath. However, I had the feeling I'd need a heavy one plus layers for the bad days in a moist climate. I tucked this knowledge away since it was May and far from the snowy season. Never mind the fact of how stores didn't even have out winter coats any longer, but swimsuits, shorts, and tank tops. It was the wrong season. So, I decided to wait for the opportune time.

Then, came our first Minnesota snow in October and I remembered my situation. I didn't need it yet, at that time, but I recognized I should start to look around for one. I wanted the best for me: price was right, heavy enough, and appealing to my eye and taste. I would make sure all three requirements were met.

Next, I brought up the subject to my husband. After all, we needed to budget for it and plan on when to buy the coat. Of course, he agreed it was essential and we decided to buy it in a week or less. But, first, the heavy winter coat needed to be located. Even if I found it at the first store, I would go around to all the others just in case. I had to know it was the best fit for my three criteria. Also, I needed #2 as an option in case the #1 option went up in price or if they didn't have my size.

My husband who hates shopping offered to run around with me from store to store over a period of three days so we didn't get burned out in shopping too much. You also need to understand that since I'm a full-time mom, I'm in the house 24/7 for 4.5 days a week. I don't mind that except on Friday night, I'm stir-crazy and can't wait to get out for the sun, fresh air, and freedom! So, this shopping excursion was needed on several levels. Never mind all the exercise we got from walking store to store. Of course, I didn't find the dream coat until the last store. I had options, but none of them fit my three criteria.

The ironic and am using part about finding the perfect coat at the last store was:

1. It was the last store in sequence.

2. It was the last store that came to mind because I doubted I could afford it from there.

3. At that store before I found the perfect one, there were several coats: too expensive, too thin, and/or not my style.

4. The coat I chose was not my style until I humored my hubby and tried it on to see what I really thought of it.

5. We had to cross state lines to get it.

You need to understand my body shape makes it challenging for me to find clothes that fit me well. I'm short, for starters. I'm not skinny. I have a medium-sized frame and am 12 lbs. overweight and am intentionally working that off as we speak and will keep it off this time. I have a bigger mid-section of hips, rear-end, and thighs. My legs are short and so are my arms, but my torso is longer.

As you can see, I have no body issues and wouldn't go into this much detail normally. However, it's needed so you can understand my predicament of when I tried on this coat.

Wait. I need to tell you more of the story.

My husband was ready to hand me a small. I laughed to myself and told him, "Uh-no." I cited all of the above reasons and added how I also needed room for layers underneath (never mind a baby bump if we are successful and get pregnant).

So, he grabbed a medium. I chuckled and shook my head. I reached for a large. Then, we had our normal discussion where my 6-foot medium framed old football playing mate tells me I'm tiny and a large won't fit. Bless him.

The large fit.

The price fit.

The weight of the coat was perfect.

The style fit me like a glove and was the perfect match when I wore it. So, the coat I doubted when I saw it, fit me and my three criteria perfectly. the only problem was it would be a few days before we could buy it.

Would a large be available when we returned? My husband pointed out how there were several on the rack and how it looked hopeful. I agreed, said a prayer, and tried to trust God it would be there when we could return to buy the coat.

6. The other ironic part is how before we could go and buy it, I described it to my mom and remembered the wrong colors. So, when we did purchase it, it was even better than I remembered and they actually ahd even more out than they had when we were there last.

7. When we went to buy it, my hubby worked late that night and I wodnered if we could go get it--after being excited all day to do so.

8. It was dark, cold, and raining. So weather also made me wonder if we could go.

9. Also, it was two days later as I write this journal entry and I still haven't worn it because I needed to scotch guard it in order to add extra protection agianst the weather. So, I can't wait for the weekend--provided I don't roast.

Stay tuned for the spiritual moral of the story.
 
By Stacy Duplease
of Stories by Stacy