It’s been a challenging few months. It all started with just a little crack…
We discovered a narrow crack in the grout of our downstairs bathroom, then
we found moisture oozing from the crack (the blooming mushroom gave it away!), then
we felt the wet carpet on the other side of the bathroom wall, then
the plumber found the broken wall pipe from the upstairs kitchen, then
the contractor had to rip up the carpet, wallboard, and bathroom, then
we found groundwater seeping through our 45-year-old foundation, then
the jackhammering started for the interior french drain, then
the furnace stopped working due to all of the jackhammer dust, then
my husband’s car got damaged in the parking lot at the gym!
Ugh!!!
Each day brought new and less-than-exciting discoveries. Oh my … the construction and never-ending decisions consumed most of my brain space. We tried to keep our perspective. In the bigger picture, our children were doing great. We were all healthy. Work and ministry were good.
But the house was making us crazy! We tried really hard to place our worries before the Lord. My devotional times kept me sane. I felt God’s presence granting patience and guidance.
We are nearly done with the repairs. Plastic sheeting no longer covers the couch and chairs. The shelves are back in place. Knick knacks are returning to the shelves.
Good and Bad of the Crisis
I can now also reflect on the good that emerged…
The broken pipe allowed for some insurance coverage, and
the furnace got a much needed check-up, and
the basement no longer has a musty odor, and
the new carpet is awesome, and
the new insulation in the walls will be great next winter, and
we did the most thorough Spring Cleaning ever (everything got dusted before placement in new locations, oak end tables got polished, leather got conditioned, and windows got cleaned!)
But then … regrettable consequences also remain in the wake of every crisis. For us, the insurance company did not cover all the repairs; but we are enormously grateful for the availability of our home equity loan. Secondly, we cannot regain the lost hours spent dealing with all of the repairs. I am deeply saddened that my writing goals wasted away.
A Time for Everything
Solomon recognized the ebbs and flows of life (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). There is a season for everything. The past few months have been our time to tear down and to build (literally!). As our house crisis mounted, other responsibilities and expectations changes. The season changed. We ate out more often. I used personal vacation days from work to meet contractors. And, we made welcomed changes in our remodeled decor.
My friend, Gary, recently asked me how my 2014 word “Courage” is playing out. I told him my “courageous goals” have been on hold due to the house issues. But now I believe that the Lord put me in Courage 101. Class description: do not allow the number of decisions to immobilize thought, be bold with contractors, research solutions, have confidence in decisions. But most of all, keeping my focus on the Lord flexed and strengthened my courageous muscles.
Your Turn
Have things gone awry for you lately? What are your best ways for coping in a crisis? Please share in the comments below!
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Hi, Sharon, I am attracted to your mission statement: “supporting those who wrestle with the challenges of living the mission of faith.” When we cast our burdens on the Lord, it is wonderful when He leads us to a friend to share the burdens. This poem on my new blog is about one of those days when things went wrong and there were no insurance solutions (a topic for a book I would like to write) but an important lesson was learned. https://northernlightbooks.ca/dir/poems/?pg=3 Thank you for your invitation and for the way you encourage people here. Laurna
I’m so glad my words touched you. I hope you will drop by to browse around again.
Oh, Laurna, I love your poem!! It made me sad and smile all at once…so beautifully written. Thanks for sharing and thanks for dropping by! I’m delighted to connect through Redbud Writers!
Oh, don’t get me started! My body has been falling apart after 25 years of limited mobility so I have been doing physical therapy since January. Last December I broke an incisor and had to have a bridge put in…just two more trips across the state to the dental school. I am so worn out I don’t have words. For an author that is a horrible place to be! But I am getting my mobility back and my smile no longer sports a hole you can drive an F-150 through. : ) God is good!
Yes! All the time, God is good! I’m glad that your dental journey is drawing to a close, Carol. Your wonderful perspective that is focused on God’s eternal plan is a blessing for the rest of us to behold. Thank you for sharing… and, I am also glad that you are getting your words back. :-)