The following was shared by Kate S. with the congregation on October 11, 2015.
Matthew 11:28 describes Sabbath rest:
“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy
burdens, and I will give you rest.”
I have come to realize that 8 Oak Street has been a Sabbath
House to my family since the start. When
I became separated in 2006 I knew I was doing the right thing for my children
and myself. I was embarking on a new journey
that would provide me, Emily and Andrew with an opportunity to heal and grow
together as a family. I had no idea
where we were going to live because our house was being sold as a result of the
divorce. I knew I wanted to try to live
in Oakland and continue to raise my children in this wonderful community. I was at such an overwhelming point in my life;
I was going to be a divorced mother with a 5 year old and a 10 year old. How was I ever going to come through this
awful time in our lives and emerge okay?
This was something I prayed about continually. I had no idea where we were going to
live. I will never forget hearing
Arlene, while we were bowling with the youth group, speak about Ponds wanting
to rent 8 Oak while they determined how the house would function in the
church’s plan.
I spoke to Pastor Nathan and I was chosen to rent the
home. Nathan let me know it would be for
a year or 2, to enable my family to heal and figure out what would be our next
step. I remember Nathan saying something
like “We know this will help, you will still be living in a home. We see this
as a way to ensure you continue to better your family’s life.” I was so blessed, I knew God had heard my
prayers and had provided a home for us.
Through those first years my family did heal. Both Emily and Andrew came to accept that
their parents were divorced and worked through their anger and hurt. We were happy and secure and loving the life
we had there. Nathan and I continued to
keep signing a lease for the next 6 years since the church was still unsure of
8 Oak’s role. Those years were wonderful
years for us. We loved that house and
treated it as our own. I enjoyed keeping
it up, doing the yard work and gardening and took great pride whenever anyone
commented on how pretty the house looked.
Emily and Andrew had a home that was welcome to all-I enjoyed seeing
them have friends over and was so proud of the people they were becoming.
Through the last 3 years things were becoming more difficult
for me financially-my salary structure had changed, I had 2 teenagers and one
who I was getting ready for college. I
became that person who always appeared so together but was secretly falling
apart. I was struggling to make ends
meet and the stress of that became an overwhelming burden to carry. I felt so ashamed. and could not on my own
figure out how to get myself out of the hole I had dug myself into. I knew that I was in my last year as a tenant
at 8 Oak and knew financially I would have great difficulty finding somewhere I
could afford to live. I found myself
praying again for God to let me know His plan for me and to guide me to where I
supposed be.
It was at the pancake
supper in 2014 that a member of the church approached me and said I should
consider applying to live in The Sabbath House. This was something I had never
considered. I was already living there I
thought. How could I ask to live there
for another year? Why me? Wouldn’t that be taking advantage of the
church? So many questions swirled in my
mind. I read again the mission of Sabbath House and how Nathan referred to
Richard Swenson, M.D. and his thoughts on margins and of being on a treadmill
and not being able to get off. This
seemed to be describing me. Through
prayer I came to decide that I would apply and put the rest in God’s
hands. I remember picking up the
application and feeling that I didn’t know if I could divulge so much-I had
kept things so private and was uneasy at the thought of the judgment that may
come from reviewing my application and the state my finances were in. This process was a very difficult one for me.
I was one of three who had picked up an application and the only one
who applied. I was recommended to be the
first occupant of Sabbath House. Again,
I was so blessed. I was able to rest
emotionally from the financial burden that I was carrying. I knew that a lot of hard work lay ahead for
me and I met that challenge head on.
With the help of the church I was put in contact with financial help in
the name of a great guy - Joe. He helped
get me on a budget for the first time in my life. He helped me pay down a lot of my debt. He never judged me or made me feel ashamed of
the poor choices I made. He said “that
is behind you, let’s just focus on what’s ahead.” We spoke and emailed every 2 weeks and he
guided me through the year.
I was also meeting with the Sabbath House Committee at that
time. This was a very humbling process - I
was sharing so much with people who just knew me on the surface. I was again afraid of judgment but there was
none. Instead I was reminded of what I
had accomplished I the years I lived at 8 Oak, I raised 2 children who are good
people. I was humbled at the kindness
and love I felt. This past year was one
of tremendous growth for me.
I was able to achieve exactly what the outcome of the
Sabbath House’s mission is. I was able
to find a home I could afford to rent and while not in Oakland I found one
right in Wyckoff. After almost 8 years
to the day I had moved in to 8 Oak St, I moved out. Andrew did not have to change school systems
and is a freshman at Indian Hills. Emily
is doing so well as a junior at Rowan University-she hold down 2 jobs on
campus, provides for herself and has consistently been on the Dean’s List. I am in a better place financially and just
became engaged to such a wonderful man.
God has been teaching me lessons and guiding me. My Ponds' family and the journey I am on here
has been an ever-present reminder of God’s presence in my life.
