Challenges

What a couple weeks we have had. A little over a week ago I put a load of wash in the washer, turned it on, and heard a whine, a big clunk, then silence. The washer had spun its last load. It had lived a good life but after suffering over 10 years of hard labor it finally died. But that was not all. That same night the girls went to get a drink of water from the water dispenser on the fridge. It wouldn't work. As Kelly was checking the electrical outlet, smoke came pouring out of the fridge in the place where water should of been pouring out. It was a snap, crackle, pop, that didn't come from a box. After having an electrician check the power then next day, he found that the problem originated in the fridge and some of the electrical circuits had shorted out. The next morning it was on to the stovetop where the burners who had been a little temperamental in the past, were very ornery. That was the end and we made a trip to Lethbridge to replace appliances. We ended up replacing 4 appliances as the washer came with a companion. Then a couple days later the suburban was shaking so we took that in to see what was the matter and no it hadn't died but some wheel bearings and two tires needed to be replaced. Finally two days ago I was turning off the water at the kitchen sink and the handle kept turning around and around and around without turning off the water. More replacements needed and all of this in two weeks.

Now you may wonder if there is a lesson in all of this and there is. You see since January I have been trying to be more grateful. I think that Satan is trying to thwart my efforts by throwing challenges in my path. It’s easy to be grateful when everything is going right, not so easy when things are going wrong. In my scripture study I have found out why it’s important to be grateful. In Doctrine and Covenants 46: 7 it says, “But ye are commanded in all things to ask of God, who giveth liberally; and that which the Spirit testifies unto you even so I would that ye should do in all holiness of heart, considering the end of your salvation, doing all things with prayer and thanksgiving that… (And this is why we need to be thankful)…ye may not be seduced by evil spirits (can’t depression and discouragement be an evil spirit) or doctrines of devils (he does want us to feel hopeless), or the commandments of men; for some are of men and others of devils.”

So, even thought things seem to be falling apart all around me there will always be something to be grateful for. I haven’t had to deal with devastating earth quakes, fires, floods or anything of those things that can leave a person with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Two weeks without a washer is much better than months without even a home.