R.I.P. Kindle...

I've loved reading for basically my entire life. I learned how to read in pre-school, and can remember "helping" my first grade teacher with reading lessons in class. No wonder I was picked on.

Reading has always been an escape for me. Growing up as a basically only child (my sibs are all wayyy older), I learned how to entertain myself. When I discovered that books weren't just for school, I was hooked. I read anything and everything I could get my grimy little hands on. I loved getting lost in a story and forgetting about my life for those few hours. I read as much as I could, whenever I could. I've missed a plane because I was so into a book. I've not heard the bell to end study hall because I was busy reading. Needless to say, I'm a bookworm. And I like it.

Fast forward to Christmas of last year. My relationship with my parents was still pretty rocky, they were still mad at me for leaving my ex. I'm not someone that is spoiled, per say, but Christmas has always been nice. Gift cards, gas cars, things I want AND need, that sort of thing. When I arrived Christmas morning, one solitary present was shoved in my arms. It wasn't even really wrapped. When I opened it, I started bawling. It was a brand new shiny Kindle Keyboard. I LOOOVED it. I felt so blessed that I had even received something, and I thought it was so thoughtful. Thinking back to that day, I think my parents wanted me to realize I wasn't their little girl anymore. I had become a person they didn't care for, but knew they "had" to get me something. I still think it is the best gift I have ever received.

Last night, my precious Kindle fell victim to a shattered screen...even though I didn't drop it. Apparently that has been a problem with the model I have. When I realized that it was unfixable, I broke down. I probably cried harder last night than I have in the past 3 weeks, and that's saying something considering I've cried myself to sleep every single night. I cried because I am lost without books, at least right now. Reading is the only thing I can do that takes my mind off of Ty...and that was disrupted. All of my "real" books are in storage, so I was helpless. It seemed like just one thing after another went wrong in September, and this latest thing acted as a trigger for the D word.

I sat in my bed with tears streaming down my face, wondering what I was going to do. Every few minutes  I would rush over to where the Kindle was charging, to see if maybe it was just extremely low. After an hour of this, I just slumped against my wall. Then I had an idea.

I prayed. Hard. I begged God to fix my source of happiness and contentedness...and He listened. When I got to work today I signed into Amazon, and thanks to Arshed (who I'm pretty sure was in India), and explained what happened. He patiently read everything I said, and informed me that he was sending me a brand new Kindle, free of charge, the next day. As in, tomorrow evening I should have my new one. Oh. My. Goodness. I wanted to track Arshed down and kiss him.

This experience has opened my eyes to the fact that God really does listen to each and every prayer that His children send Him. No matter how trivial.

Have any of you had an eye opening experience like this? What about any favorite books?

CATE