Wednesday, May 4, 2011

The Biggest Part Of The Unexpected

The Big Bad Digger
When I got home from work on Monday Mike gave me the sad news that we were going to have to do some digging again.  This time we need to dig on the other end of the line.  Our work schedules, the short time frame & the inconsistent weather all conspired against us being able to do the dig ourselves.  Fortunately our plumber recommended someone to dig for us.  It took them quite a while to get there because they had to drive this Bad Boy all the way to our house on the city streets.  I wish we could have done the digging ourselves because it would save so much money, but it just wasn't an option.  It's the next step in this ordeal to have free flowing water.  We take that step gladly knowing there are several things to thank God for:

1.  The rain quit on Tuesday morning so that the work could be done.
2.  Our plumber recommended someone who doesn't charge nearly as much as we feared.
3.  Their digger has tires instead of tread.  The tread on the small digger we used last time destroyed the grass everywhere it went.  A digger this big would have caused some massive damage.  We don't have a manicured lawn by any means but we want to keep as much of it alive as possible!
4.  These guys will haul all the broken pipe away & we won't have to try to figure out how to dispose of it.
5.  Our overstuffed closets.  It's a good thing that Mike & I both have a hard time parting with clothes because I haven't been able to do much laundry at all for about 2 weeks.  We've been dragging out some stuff we haven't worn in ages.  When this thing gets fixed, I'm probably going to have 15 loads of laundry to do!

I don't want you to think that I've been going through this whole thing with an open checkbook & a smile on my face.  I've really had to force myself to focus on God's goodness & sovereignty through this because there is major temptation to be discouraged & be anxious.  In fact, I was on the edge of a migraine all evening Monday & all day Tuesday because I was stewing about this & the other things that are going on right now.  I just have to keep handing all of this over to the Lord again & again.  And I realize that malfunctioning plumbing is so insignificant in the face of what others are facing right now due to earthquake, tsunami, tornadoes, flooding, illness, and so on.  We have nothing to complain about & though tempted to wallow in my worries, I'm so grateful that He can be trusted to take care of my cares....  

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
I Peter 5:7


4 comments:

Jenny said...

I'm so sorry! Malfunctioning plumbing can be so discouraging. (you are right - it's not AS big as someone else's struggle, but it is still hard!) I am praying for you and Mike - and praying that this is the last time you have to deal with this!!!! :-)

Mary Ann said...

Thanks so much, Jenny! Things are finally back to rights. This is just another phase of the big project. Hopefully we are now 2/3 of the way done & the last bit we should be able to do ourselves. God has been so gracious to us during all of it!

Unknown said...

Wow, just having that "bad boy" in my yard would have been #1 on my son's thankful list! He would have been in machine heaven! :)

Seriously though, I'm so thankful that you are seeing the good hand of God in this. And even though it's not a major disaster like a tornado or earthquake, it's still a big deal because it's impacting your life and God cares about all the intimate details of His children's lives!

Mrs.T said...

That's right! Just keep focusing on God's sovereignty and the fact that He allows trials for a purpose -- and He is good, all the time. It's such an encouragement to see how He works in our lives to bring about growth.