Surviving life when it’s going down the toilet
Back in 1980 something I witnessed a truck roll like a log down a hill and land on its side. The driver stood in one window while his head stuck out of the other. He assured everyone he wasn’t hurt and we might have believed him were it not for the jagged edges of his tibia and fibula poking through the skin of his lower leg. Apparently the human mind goes numb to pain when circumstances are overwhelming. I think I can relate; three of my family’s human minds went numb as we tried to absorb the doctor’s every unwelcome word. Don’t ever ask what else can happen, it can always get worse. But, I’m surviving life when it’s going down the toilet.
Bad news
I’m okay, really. Well, I was until I heard the incessant:
PLOP
PLOP
PLOP
Make it stop! Please…
I totally lost it somewhere around the seventh beach towel. Maybe I should have listened to the voice in my head that said, “Hmm, that didn’t seem quite right, maybe you should turn off the valve.” Nope, instead I tucked my optimism under my arm and hurried out the door. At least I had sense enough to position a pan underneath to catch water, “just in case.” Not that it made any difference; not that any of the safeguards in my life made any difference. Oh well, only one safeguard really matters, let peace guard your heart and mind.
Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” ESV
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
When I heard the incessant drip, discovered the puddle in the floor and felt the squish of the carpet in the next room, I couldn’t take it anymore. While positioning the pan was a good idea, maneuvering it out when it’s full to the brim was entirely another matter. Moral of the story: I am not superwoman. Despite my intricate knowledge of female plumbing, I have no business trying to fix the toilet on my own, regardless of the “easy to install” labeling on the package.
Proverbs 18:14, “A human spirit can endure in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?” NIV
LIFE GOES ON
A white-haired gentleman at my church recently hugged me and said, “I am so sorry for what you are going through.” Of course he was talking about something else, because it seems there’s always something else these days. Then he said,
Remember, life goes on.”
Excuse me, is that the good news or the bad news?
So yeah, my life is going on, and on and on and on. Someone recently called me experienced in perseverance. Yep, in fact, I’m an expert. I’ll just add that to my resume’ – PERSEVERANCE EXPERT. After all, it’s a hard-earned title.
Romans 5:3-4, “And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.” HCSB
THERE IS HOPE
Always, always there is hope. Despite disability, divorce, disappointments, diagnosis and drips…. there is hope. Months ago, I made a proclamation to God, the devil and anyone else who may have bugged my house. “I will use whatever you throw at me for ministry.” I promise you I will. No matter what, I will open my mouth, pick up my laptop and redeem “all things.” But seriously, I’m about to run out of patience and containers.
2 Corinthians 12::10, “I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.” MSG
Hey, read that verse again, it’s rich. My hope is not in myself or my own strength. Surviving life when it’s going down the toilet requires total dependence on Christ. They say, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. So maybe I am superwoman after all, but it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. I am weak, He is strong.
You are also greatly loved!!! Many times the words, “this is too much” have come out of my mouth in the form of a prayer for the hard things. Praying for your “too much.” As our childhood song Jesus Loves Me says, “I am weak, but He is strong. Yes, Jesus Loves Me.”
Hanging on to that rope!
Thank God it is an endless rope! Love you my sister in Christ
Praying for you, my sweet friend. How many times I have said “God’s got this” seems lame when I look at what you and others are going through. May the ONE who holds the earth and each of us in the palm of HIS hand use this as He has continued to use you to spread HIS plan and WORD to others who need HIS peace, grace and love.
Thank you for speaking TRUTH!
So sorry about that plumbing problem dropping on top of all the rest, but at least it is easily remedied. And for the rest, I know you are on the right track.
Plumbing is not yet remedied but is easy compared to everything else! Writing keeps me on track…
Life can continue coming at us one drip at a time and when several of those pile up at once, we can often feel overwhelmed. So glad we know the MAN in charge and the ONE who has everything under control. I often feel like I am in a free fall with no safe landing in sight, but then remind myself that God has me tightly in His hand and has said no one can snatch me from His hand. You do redeem all of your various issues and use them to minister to all of us. Thank you for sharing your heart. God Bless you!!!
Sounds like you know…Love that He holds us tightly. Thanks for your words
I learned many years ago never to say, “What else?” The Lord who has held me afloat all these years through family health crises and then with a smile I promised Him I would never challenge Him with my flippant remark of What else! Looking into the fog of the future, it is easy to think how awe could not possibly handle one more event. The miracle of being in God’s hands is that we learn there are times He only gives us the ability to handle one moment at a time and those moments that have often brought me to my knees proved that this was the exact amount of time that I needed! God amazing me on a daily basis! Thanks be to God❤️🙏
This is so relatable! I’m studying the fruits of the spirit right now & of course this week I’m on patience! When my “toilet breaks” or anything goes wrong I want to fix it now. God’s time is definitely not our time! He is working on me, but I’m definitely a work in progress! Love you & your encouragement even in the midst of your own survival!