Day 30

I never really know what I'm going to post each day.  But today, God let me know quite early what today's post would be... and it's called Toilet Trouble.  My alarm went off this morning and I wanted to hit the snooze button, but God gently reminded me that I was supposed to be excited about my morning quiet time (thanks to my seven year old's enthusiasm from last night), so I got out of bed and obeyed.  And I'm so glad I did.  I listened to 10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman and was reminded that I needed to be thankful at the end of the day, no matter what happens by this verse:  "Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me, let me be singing when the evening comes."  God was preparing me... I even got to experience God's living and active word this morning!  My day was off to a great start.

The boys got up, we were on schedule, and things were lookin' good.  Then, I got a call from my son from the bathroom and I knew what was coming... the toilet was clogged.  How did I know this?  I discovered it last night, but wanted my hubby to take care of it... and I forget to mention it to him.  So, now it was up to me.  Let me tell you, I'm not a plunger kinda gal, but today, I was me or nothing.  So I found the plunger and was anticipating success.  I pumped it a few times and nothing happened, so I got the bright idea to flush the toilet to see if it secretly worked and I just didn't realize it.  Big mistake!! Whatever you do, do not flush the toilet if the water level didn't decrease after using the plunger.  Why, you ask?  Because it floods.  Yep, you got it.  My bathroom floor was flooding with sewage water.  As I yelled "No!," I did have quick enough reflexes to grab my Christmas rug off the floor before it got contaminated.  And the flood didn't just stick to my bathroom.  Nope, it spread into the hallway.  I quickly grabbed a roll of paper towels and started tossing them all over the floor... all the while looking at the toilet full of brown liquid that wasn't going anywhere but on the floor.  I was starting to get frustrated and a thought flashed through my brain.  Guess what it was... Heather, you're supposed to give thanks in all circumstances.  Ha!  So I was at a crossroads... give thanks or get mad.  The choice was mine.  And today, I chose thankfulness, thanks to the Holy Spirit's still small voice reminding me of 1 Thessalonians 5:18.  I wasn't quite sure what to be thankful for yet, but I was gonna find something...

After I had paper towels on the pools of sewage water, I had one last task... to fix the blockage.  I grabbed the plunger and thought... I don't know if this is gonna work.  So, I said a prayer.  You got it, I prayed "Dear God, please let this plunger work."  I plunged a few times and voila!  The blockage was removed.  Thank you, God!!  I'm so glad the God answers prayers about my clogged toilet!

No time to clean up the rest of the mess, so the paper towels covering the floor would have to do until I dropped my son off at school.  As we said our prayers in the car, I started off with "Thank you God for toilets, plungers and paper towels."  And the boys and I cracked up laughing together.  Choosing to be thankful was so much more fun that choosing frustration. 

I had to run an errand after dropping my son off at school and we got to drive by the sewage plant.  Pretty funny after my toilet trouble this morning!  And it stunk sooooo bad.  I mean it was really nasty.  My three year old exclaims "P-U!  What is that smell!"  And I replied "It's the sewage plant.  Aren't you glad our house doesn't smell like that?"  He said yes.  It brought a smile to my face because even though I had sewage all over my bathroom, my house didn't stink one bit.  Pretty miraculous in my book... another thing to be thankful for!

Now, the floors are bleached and smelling like swimming pool water according to my three year old.  The toilet works.  It's a good day.  And I hope that you chose some thankfulness today too!  So, here's my Psalm of thankfulness for today...

I will extol the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips.  My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.  Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together.  Psalm 34:1-3

Tonight, I am thankful for...

1. Toilets that normally work properly
2. Plungers
3. Paper Towels
4. Laminate floors that make cleaning up sewage easier
5. Sewage plant smells that make me thankful that my house doesn’t stink even though I had a sewage flood
6. Giggling about our toilet troubles with the boys
7. Bleach
8. Praying for my three year old to take a nap… and him falling asleep shortly thereafter… Thank you Jesus!
9. Silly Putty
10. Experiencing God's living and active word this morning
11. A devotion my hubby sent me that was just what I needed to hear

Here's to 10,000 reasons... Only 6,807 to go...