Keep the fire burning

Today was supposed to be “yard work” day. Since there was nothing on the calendar for today, a Saturday, I had been planning all week that we would get the big piles of brush burnt and plant some bulbs so we could enjoy some pretty flowers soon. This all seemed like a great plan, until......sometime in the week Paul made plans for the late afternoon and I realized the weatherman was calling for thunderstorms. Ok, so I could deal with the plans Paul made. They weren't till later in the day anyway, we could at least work the morning. And as for the thunderstorms, online it said they wouldn't come till later in the evening. So, we could still get the work done...or at least started!

Well, Saturday morning came. The kids and Paul were up and in the kitchen or living room by 7 am. I on the other hand was enjoying some rest. I did eventually make it out of bed a little after 8, but boy did my back hurt and I had a headache and my throat felt funny. And it was already cloudy and yucky looking outside. I just felt kind of blah and didn't feel like doing any yard work. I made myself some breakfast and enjoyed it alone since everyone else was outside. I finally made it out there around 9 and joined Paul around the fire he had started. Well, at least the brush would get burnt. The kids were playing happily together in the back yard and staying away from the fire.

We were out there about a half hour more when it started raining. It wasn't just a sprinkle anymore so we headed inside. Paul was keeping an eye on the fire, but at one point he asked me to look out on it. There was a lot of smoke, but no flames. I knew it was still hot underneath, but it looked like the rain was going to put it out. I don't know how long it rained, but it was a while and it wasn't a soft rain. But, when the rain was all done and a little time had passed, Paul went out to check on it and as he stirred it up a little he found that there were still some flames underneath and the fire started burning good again. Even with all that rain it hadn't put that fire out!

Then this thought came to me. There are times in our lives when we are really “on fire” for God. It's easy for others to see Him through us at these times. Then there seem to be times when we're not....we're just smoldering and we're not really different than the world. When we're “on fire” people see the difference. They see God's love through us. I don't know about you, but I'm glad that since I am a child of God that my flames can never go out completely! I am so glad that He is a loving and patient God that doesn't let me go! This all then made me think of a song called “Pass It On”.

It only takes a spark I wish for you my friend

To get a fire going This happiness that I’ve found
And soon all those around You can depend on Him
Can warm up in the glowing It matters not where you’re bound
That’s how it is with God’s love I’ll shout it from the mountain top
Once you’ve experienced it I want the world to know
You’ll spread His love The Lord of Love
To everyone Has come to me
You’ll want to pass it on I want to pass it on
What a wondrous time is spring I’ll shout it from the mountain top
When all the trees are budding I want the world to know
The birds begin to sing The Lord of Love
The flowers start their blooming Has come to me

That’s how it is with God’s love I want to pass it on
Once you’ve experienced it
You’ll want to sing
It’s fresh like spring
You’ll want to pass it on

Lord, I pray today that you will help use the fire I saw today as a reminder to keep my fire for You burning. Help me to be in your Word daily and trust You for everything, even the “little things”. Help me not to let the “rain” come and make my fire smolder. Let others see You and Your love in me. In Your name I pray, Amen.

HOW TO USE A DISHWASHER

Sorry, I hope the title wasn't too deceiving, but this isn't really about giving you the proper ways to use a dishwasher. I'm sure someone has already written about that! No, this is more on how NOT to put motivation into what people say or do. Let a comment be just that, a comment or observation. Let me explain.

Paul and I were married on July 3, 2004. In August of 2004 we moved from IL to PA. We lived in a one bedroom apartment in the basement of my sister-in-laws' parents' house. The kitchen had a dishwasher, but it was one of those that you had to hook the hose up to the sink each time you wanted to run it. The way the kitchen was set up, the dishwasher was not close to the sink, so we had to load it up and then roll it over to the sink and hook it up. We had only been living there a short time when my in-laws, Wayne & Carole, came to visit. I didn't really think I was nervous about them visiting, but I realized later I was. One day while they were there, I pulled the dishwasher over to the sink, hooked it on, and flipped the lever up to turn on the water. Then I started the dishwasher. Carole then walked over and turned the water to hot while making a comment that it needed to be on hot to run properly. Here I had just been turning the water on wherever this whole time because I thought the dishwasher would heat up the water. How dare she tell me how to run this dishwasher! It's not like it was my first one! Ok, well it was my first one, but still she didn't have to make me feel like I didn't know how to clean my dishes! I guess she thinks I can't clean a house or cook or take care of her son! These were the thoughts I had....all from just her changing the setting of water temperature. Fortunately, I married a great guy that was able to calm me down and talk me through this time. It wasn't that big of a deal and he really didn't think his mom meant anything by it. And you know, to this day I still don't know if it matters where the water temperature is set!

I am so thankful for a husband that was able to tell me to just calm down and not to give motivation to something said. Oh and did I mention that years later, when Carole and I had become good friends, I mentioned this incident to her? And guess what? She didn't even remember making the comment!!! Here I had hung onto this for years (not bitter, but just remembering it) and she hadn't even remembered saying it! Now we laugh about it, but I am so glad that my reaction to her comment didn't ruin the relationship that we were able to establish and that has grown over the years. I could have become so bitter about that and thought that every comment she made had some other meaning behind it. If I was offended by the comments, then I would definitely be offended that every time she comes to my house she cleans! But, I'm not offended, because I know that cleaning and doing things for me is her way of showing her love to me. I love having her come and help around the house! But, our relationship could have gone different if I hadn't realized her comment was just that, a comment....an observation.

Now, fast forward a few years...I found myself this past weekend at my in-laws house once again having a discussion about dishwashers. And as I think about it, I think almost any time we are together and the dishwasher is loaded, a conversation about it comes up. This weekend the conversation turned toward if you should put sharp knives and cookware in them. I have always been told dishwashers dull your sharp knives and can ruin your cookware so I don't put either in there. At the time of the conversation I was laughing to myself because I was thinking how funny it is that our conversations seem to always go to the dishwasher. But, later as I was thinking about the conversation and about that first incident, I realized that I may have done the same thing as Carole. You see, my newest brother-in-law was a part of the conversation. He was the one that said they put their knives and cookware in the dishwasher. Here I was telling him what WE do. I was just sharing information...making a comment. Now, I know he is a guy and probably didn't think twice about it, but he could have easily taken my comment as offensive.

As I thought about this all more, I thought about how many times Paul has told me I put motivation in things people say or do.....a lot. How many times have I taken a “little comment” or “observation” that someone said and thought they meant something mean? It's not the person speaking to me that is at fault, I am. I am the one adding things to what they said and then get upset or bitter over it. I am the one with the wrong attitude. I am the one that suffers then. As I use my dishwasher each day I hope it will be a reminder to me to remember what I've learned.

“Love...is ever ready to believe the best of every person...” 1 Cor. 13:7 (Amplified)