Photo by Sergey Lapunin on Unsplash

Mom and Dad went through a tough situation with their next door neighbour. 

They lived in a nice neighbourhood and our homes were separated by cedars. The next door neighbour asked that the cedars be removed, so my parents agreed, and it was decided a fence would be built in its place.

My parents enlisted my brother and I to help with the labour. Perhaps you really can call us the Property Brothers. It was hard work to dig up the cedars. But as you could imagine, it was satisfying to finish the job. The wooden fence looked great! And it probably saved my parents a lot of money. 

However, our neighbour pointed out that the fence encroached on her lot by about two or three inches at one end—enough to really bother her. She involved a lawyer and insisted the fence be removed. I remember the whole process was stressful for my parents. This went on for several months and finally my parents removed the beautiful fence.

I went to Mass with my Mom during this time. After communion we chatted about the situation and how nice it would be to have friendly neighbors. My mom said, “It would take a miracle for our neighbour to move.” And could you believe it, when we drove back to our place, there was a “For Sale” sign on this neighbour’s lawn. 

Okay, God! Now we’re talking! (Then my mom said, “Well it will take another miracle for the house to actually sell).

The house sold quickly and a few months later we had new neighbours who were an absolute blessing. They had a great relationship with my parents. As for the fence? My dad put it back up as soon as the sold sign went up. And the new neighbors loved it.

It’s nice when our prayers are answered, especially the ones that help us in times of trouble. What will you pray to God for this Lenten season? He might just answer your prayers with a miracle.

“Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you” (Matthew 7:7).

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24).

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