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Not Until It’s Gone…

“So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?'”   Matthew 6:31

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURESLast Thursday, when I turned on the sink to wash my hands, no water came out. I have to admit, I was more than unsettled by it. It’s not uncommon for our town to lose power, and therefore water, as most of us have wells with pumps that require electricity to work. But we had power that day.

They are constructing thirty new homes just two streets away. The scuttlebutt in our neighborhood is that all those new wells they are putting in will deplete our water table. Naturally my next thought was that our well had run dry. That put me in panic mode. Yes, I lived in a third world country for years where water was always in short supply. But I wasn’t a mom then. I have three kids now: between baths and showers, cooking and cleaning, and doing at least one load of laundry a day, we rely heavily on running water. How were we going to function?

I’ve gotten too comfortable over the years. I’ve begun to live as if I am entitled to clean running water, all the electricity I need, isles and isles of food in the grocery store to choose from, a car that can take me anywhere I want to go, and pockets of time when I can go and do fun things with my kids. I can’t remember the last time I praised and thanked God for any of that. It’s not until something is gone that I realize how blessed I was to have had it.

It’s not just water that can be gone in an instant. Good can be snatched from our lives with just a phone call from the doctor after lab work or an ultra-sound, the morning business meeting that ends in a lay-off, or that half a second when we take our eyes off the road while driving.

Being grateful may not change any of the bad from happening, but it does makes us more mindful of the good in our lives. It also helps us understand that we aren’t entitled to any of it; they’re all gifts from God. There’s a big difference!

It also shifts our dependency away from things and circumstances, and puts our dependency on God. That’s exactly where we are supposed to be, all the time, especially when things get tough. Instead of worrying, like Matthew 6:31 talks about, we are supposed to rely on God every moment, for every thing. Total trust and dependency on God may not lead to a life on Easy Street, but it will lead to a life where our basic needs are met, and we are at peace with what we don’t have.

It turns out that our water pump was shot. In just half a day, and A LOT of money later, we had running water again. But hopefully I’ve learned my lesson. The next time I turn on the tap, put the key in the ignition, or flip a light switch and nothing happens, I need to turn to God with complete faith, rather than default to worry.

Questions For Reflection:

     * When something goes wrong in my life, do I default to worry, or do I default to God?

     * Do I depend more on things and circumstances than I depend on God?

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4 thoughts on “Not Until It’s Gone…”

  1. Isn’t it amazing what we take for granted with no thought of being grateful! A much needed reminder for me–thank you once again, Claire!

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  2. Well said, Claire. We all need a little reminding now and then. We do take too much for granted. Gratitude, not attitude — makes for a happier life! … makes God smile too! : )

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