TODAY IS DECEMBER 22, 2022 and my bathtub can’t be used yet.

It is now three days until Christmas and no days without a bath. Thank God! I am also reflecting on the fact of growing up with six in the family and one bathroom, one tub, and no shower…
How did we ever do it?!  Amazingly we did it and I don’t remember any tragedies of my parents, my three brothers, and me sharing this one bathtub.

Selah.

Now in my present lifetime our tub is just one of two for only Duane and me (and Tina, our puppy, when she needs a bath.) In fact, when we bought this house over twenty years ago, I didn’t even think about definitely choosing a house with at least two full bathrooms… God is good! God is good all the time! And He gives us all blessings we didn’t think of or ask for!

So here we are, just Duane and me (and don’t forget Tina) with only one working tub…  for a while. It’s the upper bathroom with plumbing issues; the tub was draining entirely too, too slow. How slow was it? Let me tell you: it was so slow that I’d start to taking some cleaner and a rag to wash the tub afterwards due to icky hair-cling  and grimy after-bubbles seemingly cemented on the porcelain.

So Duane set to fixing the drain only five days ago, thinking it was going to be a ‘quick fix.’

BUT HERE’S THE THING:
we made it all right. I mean all right! Duane examined the situation and what he would do: and when, if at all, he would call a plumber. My Sweetie does know a lot about (a lot) plumbing; having all the proper tools is the thing. He’s a great guy! (Remember: we’ve been married since 1979 after meeting on a blind date!) My handy husband kept me posted on his progress, or non. Three day ago, December 19th, we both agreed to let this challenge go until after Christmas. No big hassle, no huge inconvenience, no longtime stink!

The difficult part of all of this for me was first the mess. I am an exceptionally clean, neat, and orderly lady. I even hate dust! The next part was the strong (very strong) chemical smell in this upper bathroom. It was so  bad that I finally opened the bathroom window (again), shut the bathroom door, shut the door connecting the bathroom, office, and bedroom to the dining room, and this time left the window open for about an hour. Then this chemical smell had greatly diminished. Only the bathroom, office, and bedroom were very chilly for a little while.

Duane and I did make it all right! Just like Bing Crosy sang in White Christmas, we counted our blessings! And there were many! Here’s a list (definitely, this is an incomplete one!)

THINGS WE ARE THANKFUL FOR while having an ongoing plumbing problem of a slow draining tub drain (becoming a non-draining tub drain) enshrouding the tub with muck and guck!

• We have two bathtubs!
• It’s not a big deal to go down to the rec room to bathe!
• The rec room tub is deeper!
• The upper bathroom looks neat when the shower curtain is pulled shut!
• The upper bathroom’s sink and toilet were in working order!
• The chemical smell is, for all practical purposes, gone!
• The plumbing stuff Duane used is now out of sight!
• We are perfectly satisfied and content in waiting for a more convenient time to call a plumber!
• I’m not a prima donna!
• I always thank God for all of His provision – I love a hot tubby!
• Christmas is far more important than a fixed bathtub!

Each ‘!” is for excitement and joy!

SCRIPTURAL TRUTHS FOR THIS JOY STORY:

Philippians 2:14-18
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure,  “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Psalm 103
Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits–who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed the like the eagle’s.
The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel:
The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.
But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.
The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.
Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.
Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will.
Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the Lord, my soul.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-19
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit.