Daily Life

Well, it’s been a weird couple of days around our home front. This is because we are currently without hot water. We had some sort of leak in our basement which caused the pilot light to go out on our water heater. Mickey called a plumber and he came out to work here most all of yesterday afternoon. He thought he had the leak fixed, but the pilot light wouldn’t relight at that point. We all assumed it needed to properly dry out and THEN it would light. Mickey tried several times through the evening to relight it to no avail. This morning he went to the basement bright and early and not only would the pilot not relight, but the leak was back. Not as big as before, but still there. {{sigh}} So, we have to call the plumber and get him back out here ASAP. Then we have to hope that the leak stays away and hope the pilot dries out enough to finally light. If that doesn’t work, we have to get some sort of technician out here to fix the water heater too. The “joys” of home ownership, right?! Now, don’t get me wrong, I am not complaining too loudly. I know for a fact that we are blessed to have a home. I am grateful for that. I’m also thankful that this problem isn’t any worse than it is. Sure, it’s an inconvenience and a half, but it’s not the end of the world. At least we have the stove to heat water for dishes and we could heat water for bathing if need be. Does that sound ideal? No, but it’s a solution that works. So, we’ll do what we have to do and hope this gets resolved quickly. I’m SOOOO ready for a nice hot bubble bath and a book. That sounds heavenly right about now.

All of this has really made me realize how much we take for granted. I mean, just think about hot water. It’s just supposed to BE there, right? Turn on the tap, wait a nominal amount of time and hot water is supposed to be readily available. That’s what we’re used to and being without it sort of turned things upside down for us. I was talking to my brother Charlie about this just this morning and we both realized that it really could be a lot worse. At least I don’t have to draw water from a well or collect it from a creek. At least I don’t have to heat water over a fire. I mean, really, the inconvience is so slight compared to what it could be.  I am so guilty of taking so many things for granted, especially things like “every day conveniences.” We have a climate controlled home. Flip a switch, adjust the dials or buttons and we’re as warm or cool as we want to be. Easy. Start our washing machine, add powder, throw in the clothes, close the lid and walk away. Come back later to clean clothes. Easy. Want to go somewhere? Go out to one of our two vehicles, get in, turn the key and it’s ready to go. Easy. So many things in our life come so easily. We’re spoiled, quite frankly. We’re not even a family of “privilege” by many of the world’s standards, but yet we are absolutely spoiled and pampered. It really makes me stop and think about these things when I lose a convenience that I rely on so much. It’s frustrating as all get out, yes, but I won’t lose sight that it’s temporary and simply inconvenient. It’s not the worst thing in the world.

So, today finds me hoping that the plumber can come over and fix this problem. SOON. But, in the meantime, I am reminding myself to be grateful for the things we DO have which are plentfiful. I’m not always good at doing that, but it does help to make the most out of a frustrating situation.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart…”
Jeremiah 29:11~13 (NIV)