God closed the door on our shop after 23 years of operation. That week was no different than the others. The only difference was that we had two prospects come into our shop asking if we would be willing to sell. I sat down with both prospects and listened to their offer. Their offer did not include what I needed to sell the business. If we sold the business, the new owners would have to meet our standards. Our standards were simple; retain our current employees at their current seniority, wages, and benefits. Many had been with me for many years.
The first prospect agreed to my asking price but refused to employ my employees. The second prospect wanted to negotiate my asking price and terminate my employees and maybe later employ them at a later time.
I turned both of their offers down and the next week God sent two more prospects to buy our business. I met with the prospects that week and was deeply considering one prospect who met my requirements, my terms and the amount of money that we were needing. The other prospect refused to pay the asking price.
The following week God sent another prospect.
I knew that God was closing the doors of that shop, and it was up to us to decide what prospects would be best to buy the business. I didn’t know why God was closing my doors, but He was, and the timing was very important.
The third prospect that I chose to buy the business met my requirements, my terms, and we signed contracts closing the deal. All employees would be hired at the same seniority, same position, same money and same benefits if not a greater than what we’re offering now.
To have a prospect come into our business within the last 23 years wanting to buy the business was once in 23 years.
After we closed from selling the business, we started looking for another business to get into. We found one business that we liked and negotiated with the seller a price that was agreeable to us, but not to them. God closed that door and the next one.
As we celebrated Thanksgiving and were looking forward to Christmas, I had a major stroke; everything stopped there. Christmas came and I was in a wheelchair; beside me was a precious nurse we met at therapy and our paths crossed. We asked her to join us, and she did.
God knew we didn’t need to be tied down with another business and closed the door to all opportunities.
Three years after my stroke we found a beautiful lake house and negotiated the sale through a realtor. That night it was ours. The seller agreed to the sale. The next morning God closed that door!
He reminded us that He opened the door to get us into our house of 35 years. The realtor told us it was not possible, but everything is possible with God.
Throughout my life God has opened and closed many doors. He will do it for you if you are open to His words.
God bless you and your lives!