Leaking Dishwashers

Yesterday, there was water on the floor.
I thought someone had spilled something.

Nope.

My dishwasher was leaking.  I told Ski, "Well, it isn't the waterline so we're good.  I'll just handwash our dishes for awhile.   It's ok."
 I looked at it as an opportunity to actually spend time with the Lord.

I came downstairs today and there was water on the floor.
Again.

Turns out, we can't leave the hot water on because, it will just keep on leaking.

I'm the fix it lady and well, it could be like six things.   Most of them dealing with gaskets, but also replacing motors.  Way beyond the scope of people like Ski and me.  So it looks like another dishwasher is in our future. 

I used to think that many of my problems were because I had failed.  I figured that they were all punishments from God.  Thankfully, God wanted to show me that this was not the case.  He led our family through a number of trials that gently led me to a clearer understanding of His character.   When I began to understand more about God and His character, I began to understand more about what His intentions were in my life. 

Then, you know, all your friends look at your life and say,
"Hey.....God must be disciplining you!"
What they mean is that you must be doing something wrong, so change it and this stuff will stop.
They make you sift through your life to find everywhere that you've failed.  If you're truly lucky, your friend will give you suggestions on what they think your problem is.
Maybe you should eat this or not eat that.
Maybe you should see this doctor or that one.
Maybe you should........
Just fill in the blank.
It isn't hard.  If you know me, I'm sure you could give me some sage advice on where I'm falling short.  Hey, I willingly admit I'm not perfect and I need a ton of help.
I just disagree on where the bulk of my help should come from.   
Besides, no matter how much we change what or how we do things, as a Christian you will never escape the trials that come your way.   We'll always have sickness, things will always break, people will always sin against us.  It is part of the fun we get to have living in a fallen world.  

What ever happened to saying, "I'm sorry" and praying for your friend?
I think we need lots more of this!!!

I have come full circle here and have come to see that a lot of what God does IS discipline.
But the usual connotations that come from that word are almost always negative.
Discipline is because you've been bad.
You need to be corrected.

On the contrary.  The word discipline comes from the same root as disciple.  The Latin word discipulus,  from which discipline is derived, means pulpil.  The initial meaning for discipline is instruction.  But when your friend tells you to consider that God is disciplining you, you can be sure this is not what they mean.  But friends, this is what I think God is doing.   The point isn't for my brother to change me, or for me to necessarily change my circumstances so I have less pain and suffering.   The point is for GOD to change ME.  He has stuff I need to learn.  Maybe it's different from what you need to learn.  God made each of us unique.  He has also given us all unique trials to face in our lives each with a unique reason behind it.

No matter where we are in the world, the human condition is the same.  When we don't have food we're hungry.  When we're hurt, we cry.   I often imagine that a woman who lives in South Sudan  in the midst of  civil war and doubts whether she will live another day and me laying on my couch with a horrible sore throat that lasts 7 days have heart issues that can be the very same thing.  We can still both struggle with the same temptations.   They're just painted on different canvases.  So no matter who you are, God is in trials and has something bigger for you!!

God has lessons for me in a leaking dishwasher.
Just as He has lessons for me in watching my children suffer, three sets of hospital bills, a totaled van,  a broken garage door, chronic illness, and fruitless job searches these past six months.   None of these issues have been "fixed," but that does not mean that God has left us.  In fact, I think He is more at work in these every day than in a life of ease.  

So as I wait for my water to boil so I can wash my morning dishes, I thought I'd share my thoughts with you on the why I am edging closer and closer to being able to rejoice at the moment I discover a problem in my life.  God has nothing but good for me!!!

I'm not there yet, but maybe with just a few more trials...;)