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Blessed by the Best and Highly Favored

So dear friends things aren’t always easy when it comes to marriage. (If you haven’t figured that out yet.) However, if we choose to look at our blessings rather than our problems our perspective can entirely change.

I’ve been helping my friend Trina get a house ready for moving. Her friend lives in another state and the mom and grandma will be moving there soon to be closer to family. Trina was telling me how much she still had to do so I thought “hey I like to go through stuff.” Did I mention I love to go through antique stores to find treasures? Haha I love history and always wonder how something was used or who used it or how differently life was lived in the “good ole days.” I could spend time with my friend and learn some more history considering the grandma is 96.

The first day I got there I thought wow we do have a lot of work ahead of us, but being the optimist I generally am I thought no problem. (Insert face palm here.) What I didn’t count on was falling in love with this Italian family we were helping. I always wanted to be a part of an Italian family! I love her accent and the mom puts up with me trying to mimic it and totally butchering it. Haha So my friend and I worked ourselves ragged cause we love them and truly want God to bless them.

After nearly 2 weeks straight we got everything ready for our first sale. Trina was telling me how much she owes me but I was like isn’t this what we are supposed to do? Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. That’s what the Good Book says anyway.

After the first day of the sale I got home, took a much deserved shower, put on my pjs, ordered Chinese, my wonderful son picked it up and we ate. My husband, David, who’s on a shutdown at his plant right now came home not 30 minutes later, walked into the kitchen, and promptly asked, “What’s all this?”. I went to the kitchen and there was water all over the floor. Yikes!!!

About 3 weeks ago we had a major freeze here that pretty much crippled Texas. We are NOT built for that kind of weather. We managed to get through with no pipes bursting by the grace of God or so we thought. We immediately thought a pipe had burst and David turned of the water at the main then went to the attic to check. Fortunately, it was a small leak. Unfortunately, it had already dripped so much the sheetrock under the leak was destroyed. I thought, “I do not have time for this.” We still have much to do this week to finish up the move.

Now I could’ve stopped right there and just cried and had a pity party. Instead I was thankful this happened after my husband had gotten home and he was able to address it immediately. He gave it a temporary fix and decided to permanently fix it today after church.

I went to bed exhausted and considered skipping church but I knew I needed the refreshing of the Holy Spirit more than ever. It seemed God was speaking directly to me and Trina throughout the whole service. It was such an encouraging worship session and message that I felt so renewed as did Trina.

David took me to eat at one of our favorite restaurants. We came home, took a much needed nap, and then he got up to work on our pipe issue on his only day off. I walked into the kitchen, looked up, and cringed. I’ve been working on my kitchen to create a space where I would love to work and all I could see was the big hole in my ceiling plus all the old nasty insulation and sheet rock dust on the floor.

I sent a picture of the mess to Trina with the crying emoji. She sent me a much needed reply that it could’ve been much worse and to be thankful that David has the skills to take care of the problem.

So I walked back into the kitchen and took the pictures at the top of this page. Pictures of the man that has been nothing but supportive as my own house has gone awry while I helped my new Italian family with theirs. The man that works 13 days straight with one off in between during shutdowns to make sure we have not only what we need but also what we want. The man that loves God with all his heart and therefore loves me the way I should be loved. The man that has so many skills I can’t even keep count of them all. This man has flaws and sometimes drives me crazy, but definitely the one given to me by God. Recently, God has given me new eyes to see this man in a different light. It’s all about perspective. I could be bitter about my kitchen and the things David does that irritates me but I will choose to be thankful. And that fills my heart with love instead of bitterness which feels so much better!

Everyone that knows David knows his response when asked how he is doing. He always replies, “I’m blessed by the Best and highly favored!” So today I choose to count my blessings and remember that the God who saved me is also the God that will keep me.

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2020 and Toilet Paper

As 2020 comes to a close it seems only fitting that I write something about the role of toilet paper(pun intended) in this very different year that we have had. In a masked and sometimes fearful world which we have found ourselves, it is beneficial to stop and look at the positives of this season in our lives.

When the pandemic hit for whatever reason fear drove people to the grocery store and toilet paper completely disappeared off the shelves! Why? Who knows? But it vanished all the same. Fortunately, my household had an abundance at that point as we shop at Costco and buy our beloved Charmin there. In fact since my parents were visiting right before our world was turned upside down I bought a package before we were too low thinking we might need it as we had two extra people in the house. As the year progressed toilet paper was much easier to find and things became a little more “normal”.

Recently, I walked into the bathroom and I came face to face with “it”…an almost empty roll of toilet paper just waiting for me to switch it out…again. My husband has this talent for leaving a tiny bit of toilet paper on the roll and starting a new roll. The kicker is he leaves that almost empty roll on the holder pretty much every time and the new roll sits waiting to be placed where it belongs.

As I began to change it for what seemed like the thousandth time I became a little bit irritated. It was in that moment that God revealed something to me…I still had my husband alive and well to perform these little “irritating” acts.

I then began to look back on this year and realized there were others not so fortunate. Many lost loved ones…either to Covid-19 or to other causes. My uncle lost his long time love, my precious Aunt Ruby, and I imagine he would love to change out the toilet paper roll for my aunt just to have her near.

My perspective changed and in that moment I was glad I was able to serve my husband in this small act. As I took off the old roll and put on the new one I also got rid of my negative outlook and adopted a new attitude of thankfulness that my husband is around to “annoy” me in such a way. One day I might walk into the bathroom to discover a full roll of toilet paper only to be wishing for a near empty roll.

So as this year comes to a close look around at all the blessings you have. Life is short and we must live it to the fullest as we enjoy the wonderful people that surround us. Love lavishly and forgive freely.

By the way, I’m finishing up a short trip to visit my parents. When I walked into the bathroom after arriving guess what I found…an empty roll of toilet paper. I just smiled.

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How a Svengers T-shirt Taught a Lesson in Gratefulness

I am a lover of all things schnauzer! We have 2 miniature schnauzers named Zelda and Fitz. Since David and I didn’t have any children together, these are our babies. 

I am also a Marvel nerd. I love all Marvel movies no matter how cheesy or bad they may be, and if they are good then it’s a bonus! 

When these two things collided, I was excited! Enter the ad I saw for a Svengers T-shirt. Captain America, Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, and Nick Fury were portrayed as schnauzers! What more could a girl ask for? Or so I thought.

My next course of action was to tag David in the post that had the link to purchase said shirt. I know my husband well enough that if I really want something he will do his best to make it happen. So much so that I have to guard my words or he would work his hiney off to have the ability to get me whatever I want. This was not an expensive item so I tagged away. He commented that I didn’t really need the shirt, so I contemplated about purchasing it myself. I am less of a spender than David. Consequently, I didn’t buy it for myself and proceeded on with my life.

Last night David walked in the front door after work and handed me a small package. I opened it and was thrilled to see he purchased the Svengers shirt for me! At least for a moment. Then I started picking it apart. It wasn’t the type of material I usually buy. It wasn’t the right size for the style. It wasn’t the color I wanted. (My favorite color is blue and he bought me the blue one. How dare he!) And then I had the NERVE to say from now on if he’s going to buy a T-shirt for me off the internet he should get with me first so he orders the correct item. Yes, I know. I’m cringing now just writing this at how ungrateful I actually sounded. In my mind at the time I was thinking I was being “helpful”. I probably went on for 10-15 minutes about how it was the wrong shirt. He even told me maybe we could return it and get the correct shirt for me. He didn’t say you ungrateful person that’s the last thing I will buy for you. He actually wanted to fix this for me. My wonderful, loving husband ignored the tantrum I was throwing and wanted to make me happy…think on that for a moment. 

How many times are we unhappy with the way our husband or wife does something for us? How should we respond when something just doesn’t quite measure up? Let’s take a look at what the Bible says about being thankful.

The book of Ruth has always been one of my favorite books. In fact I always felt like David was my Boaz. There are a couple of instances I want to point out. After Naomi’s husband and sons died, her daughters in-law were headed back to Israel with her. They had stayed with Naomi in order to help her. She told them to head back to their land and left them with this blessing, “May the Lord reward you for your kindness.” (Ruth 1:8) Ruth, however, refused to leave her mother in-law. She felt she needed to take care of her. She went so far as to glean heads of grain in the field of Boaz. He took notice of what she did for her mother in-law and also pronounced a blessing on her. “May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.” (Ruth 2:12) Additionally, you will find many blessings in the Bible that were spoken over different people at different times. God’s people were to be thankful for one another.

How much different is it today? We as God’s people should be thankful for one another and openly show our gratitude as well as pronounce blessings over one another. In a world filled with gift receipts in case someone doesn’t like your gift and registries that make sure the right gifts are purchased, we are to stand out and be a light to others by being grateful for everything given to us. Now don’t get me wrong. I have nothing against gift receipts and I am a huge fan of registries because I dislike shopping and this makes it easier for me. But I remember as a child how my parents taught me the simple act of being grateful for whatever was given to me. I thought I had learned that lesson well…until last night. 

This morning as I began to think about the words I spoke the night before, something inside me winced at my ugly comments. I went to retrieve the offensive T-shirt and put it back on. David was right. The blue was a much better choice than the black I would have purchased for myself. The fit wasn’t as bad as I had previously imagined. It was actually really cute! I’m wearing it right now as I write this.

Then it was time to eat crow. I picked up my phone and sent a text to David thanking him for the T-shirt and how much I really liked it. I relayed how he made the better choice of color and fit than I originally thought and how I couldn’t wait to wear it to see Avengers: Endgame. I apologized for the negative comments I spoke and the ungrateful attitude I had displayed. He, being the generous person he is, accepted my apology and thanked me for the change in my attitude. 

I am so very thankful that God placed David in my life and can’t imagine living without him. God reminded me that I should not just think this, but actually LIVE it. I want to challenge you to do the same. Be open with your gratitude. We are not promised tomorrow and today may be the last chance you have to show those you love how much you appreciate them.

I needed this lesson in gratefulness that came about all because of a Svengers T-shirt.