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All is Fun Games Until There is a Flood

I was taking down the Christmas decorations on December 26th. This is earlier than normal for me but, our live Christmas tree wasn't so alive anymore. If we left it in the house any longer, it may have caused a forest fire. As I was cleaning, I needed a piece of paper to make a list. I walked into our office and heard the water on outside. Only, the water didn't sound very outside to me. As I inched closer to the wall where the spicket lay on the other side, it sounded like rushing water inside the wall. With each step I took, I walked deeper into the puddle. Our office was flooded.

A few days later, the motor in our dryer died. That same morning, I dropped my phone in my coffee. This wouldn't be that big of a deal since we have insurance on the phone, but I had already used it for a previously cracked screen.

Welcome 2017. What else do you got for me?

I am currently sitting in our (freezing) office listening to the plumber bang loudly on the exterior wall removing bricks to find the broken pipe. The exposed concrete in this room makes the bitter cold outside come in.

I seem to be that girl that has the "out of my control" things happen to her more often than not. Whether it be a car issue, technology problem, or a flood in the home, I am your gal. I used to be the freak-out type. I would become angry and frustrated wondering why on earth all this junk is happening to me when I follow the rules and do the right stuff. I would cry and whine leaving myself to feel overwhelmed and out of control.

The day of the flood, my husband frantically tore up carpet. We moved his 600 pound desk and shelves (I am not exaggerating) to get every last saturated bit out. I stayed quiet and let him lead. There was no room for husband and wife banter. After all was said and done, we stood there looking at concrete floors and books piled high on the window sill. We were defeated. We were frustrated. We were tired. This was our fifth water issue in this house. Honestly, I was ready to throw in the towel.

But, that is not what came out of our mouths.

"Cast your burden upon the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken." Psalm 55:22

What did come out of us was apologies for short-tempers and empathy towards one another.

Many of us start the new year hopeful that things will be better than the prior year. If the year before was a good one, we are hopeful we can sustain that trend. None of us look forward to the trials and challenges a new year brings. We don't like to think that way. What we don't realize is, strains and life junk doesn't care if the calendar year changed. It's still going to come. How we perceive and react is what matters.

My husband and I sat on the couch last night after getting home from basketball practices, work, and the many goings-on of the day. We both looked tired and worn out. Our faith, however, remained strong because we know the One who sustains us.

We can be pushed and shoved. Our world can and will be rocked. Lousy things will happen out of our control. Thus is life. The one thing that gets us through all the nonsense is knowing Who sustains us. When we look to the Sustainer, our perspective shifts. No longer do we think our world is going to end. We have a renewed fight in us that keeps us going through the frustrations. We know there is an end to all the madness because we have been here before.

Life is life. It doesn't matter if it is December 31st or January 1st. The good, the bad, and the ugly are going to come our way. Question is: who is going to sustain us?

"...I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you." Isaiah 46:4

Love & Blessings,
Meg

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