2/25/2014 11:24:00 PM
Lindy
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| https://www.facebook.com/RandyHowellFishing |
I know it has been forever since I have written, but it has been an EXTREMELY busy month! This year alone, our oven, dishwasher, and dryer have all went out (only the oven has been fixed). What's worse, I think the oldest appliance is only two years old. The dryer went out just outside of the one year warranty! Our last dishwasher, yeah we had it for over 20 years. The only reason we replaced it was because the inside was rusting, but it worked great and we never had to fix anything on it. They just DO NOT make things like they used to (yes, I am aware that by making this statement, I just gained a few more gray hairs).
My first reaction is to complain. Do you have any idea how hard it is to cook without an oven, or how long it takes to wash dishes by hand, or to keep up with the weather to make sure you can hang your clothes up in all of this weather we've been having?! My husband and I just went to a couples retreat this past weekend and although my clothes were clean, they were definitely those clothes that you hope you never have to wear (and that's saying a lot for me because I am not fashionable at all)!
All of those thoughts raced through my head, but immediately, the sweet Spirit reminded me of how wonderful it is to have been blessed with these items for so long. Actually, taking a break from them, made me more grateful for the blessings God has given our family, that I take for granted every, single day.
What's even better? I haven't been pinning much on Pinterest because I'm living the natural life (thankfully we still have running water for showers)!
I actually enjoy the simple life. I've always wanted to go and visit an Amish Community. You know it's very difficult to live simply when everyone around you has an Iphone, but when you're surrounded by people who don't have anything either, it somehow seems easier to live without all of this technology.
You want to know a secret? I've actually ENJOYED this little break (and by break, I mean doing extra work that takes longer)....but don't tell my husband, because I eventually do want my dishwasher back (dishes just don't feel as clean without it)!
Certainly this could all be a coincidence. However, it could very well be God reminding me of my blessings. I often complain about not having enough storage. Mark and I were talking the other day how we should just be grateful to have more things than we have storage space! What a blessing! How can I really complain about that?!
So today, I just want to encourage you to think about those little inconveniences in your life. Maybe your car keeps breaking down and you don't know how you'll get to work. Maybe your babysitter just quit and you have to find someone before tomorrow. Maybe you just feel inadequate. If that's the case, let me share this story with you:
This past Sunday, something great happened. Randy Howell won the Bassmaster Classic. Now, for many of you, you could care less about bass fishing, but for Randy, this is one of the greatest achievements he could attain in his professional fishing career. Randy has never won a ton of big name tournaments. In fact, he was pretty far behind at the beginning of the Classic tournament. Yet, he still won.
When Randy accepted his trophy, he continued to praise God (which I have often heard him do even when he has a terrible day on the lake). He even noted that by him coming from so far behind, it proves that God is the only one who can get the glory....that it wasn't his amazing fishing abilities, but that it was God's work. What a great testimony!
So remember, if something in your life seems impossible...when nothing seems to be going right....if you seem to be far behind in the game.....Remember, that's when God gets His glory!
