If
Troubles Come in Three’s
If troubles come in three’s, husband and I are due
for a glorious, problem-free spring. We’ve had more trials than triumphs
recently.
First there was a bitter miscommunication in our
family and I take the blame on this one. I was judgmental, crass, and
didn’t have the self-control to keep my mouth shut. Six weeks later
things aren’t fully resolved, although there is movement in the right
direction and I am humbly grateful.
Immediately after my knee surgery, husband and I were
the targets of a vicious verbal assault that is still echoing through
our faith community. It was meant to wound and it did. The steadfast
love of Christ-honoring friends held us up and continues to do so. I’ve
never been more thankful for Christian community.
And that brings me to #3. This week our sewer line
collapsed. First estimate of repairs: $17,500.
Three years ago a plumber with the gift of sewer
prophesy left fliers on every door in our neighborhood. The houses were
built five decades ago using Orangeburg sewer pipe; it has a fifty-year
lifespan. He warned us all of imminent disaster, but not one homeowner
called him back. When prophets bear bad news they are rarely thanked for
their vision.
When I look at these three challenges together, there
is one strikingly similarity. I take too much of my life for granted. My
prayers of thanksgiving are severely under-spoken.
My family relationships deserve more care than
friendships, not less. We usually choose our friends based on similar
interests, who makes us laugh, and who likes us best. But I need to
remember that family consists of people God deliberately chose for me.
They are here for me to learn from them.
The process of spiritual sanctification depends on
encounters with people who are just as imperfect, fragile, and stubborn
as we are. Who better than family? When we aggravate them or they
irritate us, it is an opportunity for us to be perfected into holiness.
God ultimately intends to make both sides better whenever the “fur is
flying,” but only with repentance, humility, and heartfelt apologies.
I need to thank God when my family relationships are
peaceful and loving, and thank Him even more when they survive the tough
stuff.
Also, I don’t thank God enough for the Christian
community around me. These are our friends who wisely know how to love
through the tumultuous times. They understand it’s not necessary to pick
a side and jump into the ring of hurt feelings. For two weeks husband
and I have felt the ministry of their prayers and the healing balm of
their love for Jesus directed to us.
That brings me to the sewer.
The day it backed up into his shower, Husband and I
looked around our humble house and realized that we take our comfort for
granted. I expect the lights to come on when I flick the switch. I
rarely praise God for the hot water heater. I assume the washer and
dryer, furnace, dish washer, and garbage disposal will all roar to life
whenever I ask them. A home repair tragedy in my life is when the
automatic garage door doesn’t rise with the first touch of its button.
Sadly, I cannot remember the last time I thanked God
for a home with a sewer. That changed this week.
Paul and Timothy wrote of Jesus to the church in
Colosse, “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
(Col 1:17) I think that means relationships, friendships, marriages, and
the Body of Christ.
Orangeburg pipe? Fifty years only.
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