Over this past week, I have been thinking about my obligation to not only thank God for those things that I perceive as blessings, but also for those things that truly are blessings but I often perceive otherwise. Paul told us to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thes 5:18), and I have recently had two instances in the past week when I have been mindful of my need to heed this word.
The first instance happened last Tuesday night when Ferdinand and I spent four problem-fraught hours trying to get a water pump to operate. The septic tank near our house has been overwhelmed by backflow of rainwater, and we had to do something with all of the gray water (the water that is safe to pump out of the septic tank) before it caused the tank to be overwhelmed and black water (the water not safe to pump out) to overflow all over our yard. Hosing that won’t reach the fence line, piping that won’t fit through the fence, a pump engine that wouldn’t start, a hose fastener that had been previously mis-threaded and was stripped out, the sunset and the darkness of a cloudy night, and the hose unfastening and shooting the foul-smelling water all over me with the force of a fire hydrant. We wrapped things up that night at 8:30 PM.
The second instance happened Wednesday into Thursday when I made a trip to Nyakaliro and Lusolelo with Silas and got my truck stuck in the mud for six and a half hours. The same rains that have been straining my septic tank have made a mess of the unpaved roads in nearly every direction. I went to make a visit on one of my students whose house I had not been to yet. I was directed by others who knew the way that I should drive right up to the house because the one-kilometer path off the main road was dry and firm (which it was) and that there was a place to turn around up ahead (which there was not). I had a great visit with the student. Afterwards, knowing that I could not go in reverse for the one kilometer that I had just driven in, I decided that had to try to figure out a way to turn around. An apparently After giving it a good inspection to see if it was dry enough, I decided to try making the turn-around in a clearing to the right of the path. The Land Cruiser began to slip, and then four-wheel drive would not engage. After a short time, the old LC was up to its axles in mud. Borrowing shovels, jacking up the tires to put boards underneath, pushing, pulling. What started at 3:00 PM ended at 9:30 PM.
Both situations would have been real temptations to grow frustrated and to complain, but Paul’s good word to the Thessalonians helped me to keep perspective. Without gratitude, I would have been blind to the grace of God made noticeable in the situation as well as the grace of God that sustained me through the situation.There was so much to be thankful for: that we were able to take care of the septic tank, that we eventually got out of the mud, that Silas was so flexible with all of the waiting, that I was able to make one of my visits, that we had a place to stay and some food to eat at Pastor Elias' house when we couldn't make it back home Wednesday night, that we made it back in time on Thursday for a Thanksgiving meal with some American friends.
So, this Thanksgiving I found myself learning a powerful lesson about the power of gratitude and contentment. I pray that the lesson sticks.
Isn't God SOOO good? He has been hammering this lesson into me for the past year. I am pretty confident that this will be a life-long lesson, but I have been blessed beyond my expectations with the benefits of this. Most recently I just totalled my car Monday night. That certainly wasn't on my list of preferences, but praise God that He is in control and doing what is best. That was part of His plan and I will rejoice in that! So glad to hear you (all) are being blessed by this too.
Posted by: Diana | 01 December 2011 at 10:15 PM