My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. James 1:2-3 (NKJV)
Maybe it is because my kiln has been broken. Maybe because my kitchen is torn up and I have no place to felt. Maybe because youngest son has three jobs and is rarely at home any more. Maybe it is because the puppy has gotten too big to sit in my lap and cuddle. Maybe it is because I am too exhausted to do more than sit on the couch and crash. Or maybe it is being overwhelmed by all the decisions that need to be made and lack of money to do anything. Whatever the reason, I have a lot of time on my hands. Time to reread all my favorite books for the third or fourth (or fifth or sixth) time. Nora Roberts Dream trilogy and her Chesapeake Bay quartet. Lavyrle Spencer’s Morning Glory and Bittersweet. All of the Jan Karon Mitford books. Not to mention the depressing Hunger Games. I’ve done little else but hold a book in my hands for weeks now. But, despite my best effort to bury my head in the sand and not think about the aftermath of the flood, husband and I are close to making a decision about how to proceed. And I think I can live with our choices. It helps that I finally quit trying to get what I can’t have. It helps that I finally prayed what Father Tim and Cynthia in the Mitford books call the “prayer that never fails”, “Thy will be done” and left it up to God to take care of. I will tell you it is no coincidence that the cabinet maker who was once arrogant and difficult has turned into a nice guy and showed us some ways to cut price without cutting corners. And it is no coincidence that the exact shade of green I wanted for countertops just became available in my price range. Or that our tax return check is the exact amount we need to add to the insurance check and be able to complete the kitchen. It will be a while before we can save the money for new flooring and baseboards. We will have to live with the bathroom cabinets with the holes drilled into them. But, it looks like I will be getting some beautiful new wood cabinets stained in oak and the solid surface Corian countertops with Corian sink that I wanted. Patience is not my virtue, but in this case, it is paying off. In addition to patience, it helps that I started a new Bible Study on the book of James. James was the half brother of Jesus and the book is the most like Jesus’ teaching of all the New Testament books. In the midst of my current difficulties, the words ring loud and clear. I will share more of what I am learning as time goes on. It is thought provoking and certainly more beneficial than rereading a romance novel! And since trials build patience, I’ll have plenty to spare!
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