Give Thanks in All Circumstances

On December 23, 2009, our oldest son got up and took a shower. Our younger son got in the shower shortly after our oldest. As I started to wake up, I thought that our youngest just took the fastest shower EVER! I even commented to my husband that it had to be a record. Then the hustle and bustle of the morning didn't allow me the luxury of further thought.

Our oldest missed his bus and I was the lucky one to drive him to school. He usually misses the bus about 3-4 times a year and this was number 2. Actually, I do feel lucky to take him because we are alone in the car and can talk. We talked about Christmas, about school, but not a word was spoken about his shower this morning.

By the time I arrived back home, our younger son had left and my husband told me that he discovered why there was such a record time on the shower this morning. He said he took the coldest shower himself. As he left for work, he told me that he was planning to work a half a day and finish up some last minute Christmas preparations. I still was not at full thinking capacity and moaned that I would have to wait a good hour for the water to warm up. Off to work he went.

A friend called and I was telling her that I didn't want to get into the shower this morning and she commented that she hoped my pipes hadn't frozen especially since it was such a cold morning. My brain jump started at that point. When we got off the phone I began to put together all the pieces to the puzzle.

You see, 2 months after we had moved into our first home (we are in our 2nd home)over 10 years ago, our hot water heater cracked and had to be replaced. I ran down into the basement hoping and yes, praying, that I would not find a puddle...all...over...the...floor. UGH! The hot water heater had cracked and leaked all over.

Deep breath.

I picked up the phone and called my hubby, who turned around and came back home to see what needed to be done. Now it started to make sense the record shower and my husband's cold one. Although I was disappointed that neither of our sons had bothered to mention their showers and lack of hot water to either of us.

He called the company that had fixed our heater a year ago and had given us a very fair price. I was relatively calm as we moved some storage items and cleaned the puddle off the floor. After all, when this happened to us before the guys came and had replaced the hot water heater in the same day. Of course, it wasn't two days before Christmas. So I couldn't get my morning shower...I was planning to bake cookies all day anyway.

The repairmen didn't actually come until the afternoon and then they just confirmed what we already knew...we needed a new hot water heater. They wrote up a price estimate and my husband found it to be fair. I was so happy as I baked my cookies and they left. I told them I was so thankful that I would be able to get a hot shower tonight.

The guys never returned. They called my husband and said that they would have to get back to us in the morning. I did not have a good feeling about it.

Around 10 am we got a call from the company and they DOUBLED their estimate to install a new hot water heater and then told my husband that they would not be able to do the work that day...Christmas Eve.

Ohhhhhh, the emotions I went through when I heard all the news. Why didn't they tell us yesterday so we could have called someone else??? How do you find someone on Christmas Eve to come install a hot water heater???? How can this be happening at Christmas???? IT IS CHRISTMAS! I wanted to feel the spirit of Christmas, not feel like I was just visited by the Grinch. Then my brain started to really process. Wait! It is Christmas...I need to shower. I have laundry...dirty dishes. Do I really rely on hot water that much? You betcha!

I posted a plea on Facebook. Anyone want to help install a hot water heater? My hubby found out he could buy one at Home Depot, but he wasn't sure how to install it. We actually had VERY GOOD friends that lived 3 hours away respond and volunteer to come and help. I was overwhelmed. YES...there's the Christmas spirit. But realistically, we couldn't ask our friends to give up their Christmas Eve.

After several hours I was able to accept the fact that I was not going to be able to take a hot shower in my house before the Christmas Eve service. My husband started heating water on the stove and we washed dishes that way. I did a load of cold laundry to get some "needed" clothes cleaned.

I admit I did ask why it happened on December 23rd. I went through all the dates in my mind and couldn't think of a worse time to have it happen. I was standing at the edge of total self pity. I was feeling a bit sorry for myself. Then we had a neighbor volunteer to let us shower at their home...friends from church offered their bathrooms with hot water to us. As I started to teeter, they pulled me back. I started to realize all the things I had to be thankful for in my life. How lucky am I that I have my family, my friends, my home, heat, my God! We were going to celebrate the birth of Jesus with our church family and then spend several days with our families...exchanging gifts & eating good food. You know, I think I could even be thankful that our hot water heater broke at the most inconvenient time because it allowed me the opportunity to reflect on what is most important in my life.

So, I had no hot water...I had water. Good clean water. Thank you God!

We got some pots and heated up some water and one by one we took warm water sponge baths. Boy, if this was the worse thing that was going to happen to me....how lucky...how blessed am I?

Christmas morning we woke up...celebrated the day and headed to my parents' house. I got the best gift from them that day...a nice hot shower. I did truly appreciate that.

Seriously, I learned not to take my relationships for granted and to appreciate all I have. What a GREAT Christmas message.

Two days before New Year's Day, we went back home and a different company came to the house and installed our hot water heater for the first price that was quoted to us. I can now report that we have been taking nice warm showers every day of this new year.

Then the earthquake hits in Haiti. Families lost EVERYTHING. All that they owned. Families lost members of their families. There are orphans. People have no where to go, no where to live, no water, no food. Yet I read each day how even Haitians are finding things to be thankful for...a girl that is here in the US going to college lost her home and needs to get a job to pay for college, but her family is alive and they were able to leave the city and find somewhere to go. She is thankful that her family is alive.

I know it can be so hard to remember in our daily lives to give God thanks in all circumstances, but that is what he asks us to do.

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 16-18

Dual Zone Training Conference Call ~ February 4th

Our next Dual Zone Training Conference Call is scheduled for Thursday, February 4, 2010

TOPIC: Leadership Relationships
***For ALL Steering Team Leaders***

SPEAKER: Nichole Bethel, AC Zone 22
DATE: Thursday, Feb 4, 2010
TIME: 8:30 - 9:15 pm

CALL-IN NUMBER: 218-339-2500
ACCESS CODE: 122231#

Please share this information with your whole Steering Team. Call in and support our Zone Area Coordinator, Nichole. There will be time after Nichole speaks for questions, comments, and concerns.