A few weeks ago my entire world seemed to be underwater. I don’t mean that metaphorically. I mean literally. Under. Water.
During the afternoon I ran out to the garage (where our laundry lives) to move a load of clothes from the washer to the dryer and stepped in a huge puddle. Oh joy. Our washing machine had overflowed. Again.
It does this on a fairly regular basis. Every few months we call the plumber and explain to one more technician that yes, we have terrible pipes and this happens all the time and could you please just snake the drain and not tell us that we need to replace all the pipes in, under and around our house, thank you very much.
Thankfully – although also frustratingly – I realized that our garage lake was not the result of a plumbing issue this time. Nope. I’d dropped a sock and it made its way to the drain and plugged it all up.
A bit later, I picked up Annalyn from school. It had rained earlier that day (see? UNDERWATER), so I didn’t think too much about her backpack being a little damp when she climbed in the car. But as she dragged it into the house and I saw water dripping out of it, I realized something else was going on.
Like every afternoon I reminded her to empty her backpack – show me her take-home folder, empty her lunchbox, put her freezer pack in the freezer. That’s when she said, “Um, Mommy? I forgot . . .”
What did she forget? TO SCREW ON THE LID TO HER WATER BOTTLE. Her half-full water bottle. And the other half-full water bottle from the day before. (Note to health nuts: This is why I opt for not-really-juice juice boxes instead.)
Because her backpack is so well insulated or water resistant or whatever, it had held most of the water from the past two days inside. I literally had to POUR OUT the water from her bag. And dry it out . . . along with that take-home folder and her library book. And then, you know, write a letter to the librarian offering to pay for the now-water-damaged book.
The last straw of my water-logged day was when I noticed my fridge leaking. Again.
I’m not sure what’s going on, but for about two months now, our refrigerator has been alternately freezing our food (in the fridge part and not the freezer) and leaking water all over our food . . . and our kitchen floor. It’s also managed to create – on its own! such a talented appliance! – a fantastic ice skating rink on the bottom shelf of our freezer that is so lovely and thick that a butter knife (my ice weapon of choice) won’t even make a dent.
So. To recap: It rained. And the washing machine overflowed. And her backpack held all the water previously contained in two water bottles. And the fridge leaked all over the floor.
At that point, I didn’t have a single dry towel left in the house. And I was pretty sure I never wanted to see another drop of water. At least for a day.
Ever had a day like that?
Some days are just like that – all drips and puddles and floods. Some days can leave you feeling all wet. Breathless. In need of a warm, dry towel – or a life preserver.
{Yes, now I’m talking metaphorically.}
In case your weekend was more putting out fires than catching up on rest . . .
In case your Monday morning has already trashed your new week intentions . . .
In case you’re not sure how you’ll make it to the weekend or the afternoon or the morning coffee . . .
In case your pregnancy symptoms now include insomnia, sinus infection-induced asthma attacks, heartburn, constipation and a few things even more embarrassing than all that . . . (What’s that? That’s just me? Good. YOU DON’T WANT THIS.)
In case your heart beats too fast when you glance sidelong at your to-do list and looming deadlines . . .
In case your heart breaks when you look at your family, your husband, your child, your desk, your Facebook feed, the bills, the hospital bed, the empty chair, your life . . .
I want to tell you (and me) to hold on.
HOLD ON.
Hold on and keep walking, one foot in front of the other.
The surface may be slippery and your legs wobbly, but don’t stop. Reach for that orange circle of hope – that person who believes in you, that long-lost dream that won’t fade away already, that mustard seed of faith that even in THIS, there is a purpose and a plan.
Hold on.
Some days the drips turn into puddles turn into lakes turn into oceans with tides and waves and sea monsters (or, as you might call them, fish). But eventually the tide will go back out and the towels – and tears – will dry. The flood – whether literal or figurative – never lasts forever. So until then, HOLD ON.
Hebrews 10:23
What do you hold onto when you feel like you’re drowning?
exactly what i needed to hear today – thank you!
I had to laugh – last Wednesday I woke up early, came downstairs to make coffee, and….our kitchen was flooded. The dishwasher backed up into the sink, onto the counters, into the cabinets, on the floor, into the dining room, and thru the floor to the basement. I think I was more in awe and overwhelmed of how much water backed up….
Oh, no!! My dishwasher leaked this summer after my husband put new flooring in our kitchen and it got moved out of place somehow. I was amazed at all the water, too – but can only imagine if it had happened overnight and I hadn’t caught it! I hope you didn’t have too much damage to deal with!
Mary, I have days like that more often than I care to think about! But holding on has gotten me through all of them so far. I keep trying to “Let Go and Let God.”, also a good cry now and then seems to help :)
The problem with your fridge is the drain in the freezer is blocked. It is a fairly easy fix. Contact me if you want and I can point you in the right direction. I have the same problem from time to time. :)
Hold On! and thank you so much for all you do, you are the sometimes my knot and sometimes my swing when I am at the end of my rope!
He is faithful, right?! And…yeah…a good cry (more water!!) does help sometimes! Okay, emailing you right now to get your help fixing my fridge – thank you!!!
Seriously, I have had MONTHS at a stretch like that :). I am glad to report I did not drown and Jesus made me {and our family} stronger after the fact. :0)
Some of the best advice is to HOLD ON…there will be a life boat at just the right moment.
Hope your fridge is an easy fix!
AMEN. (And thanks!!)
Okay, you’ve given me some perspective on my not so great Monday. At least my fridge is working well. (now that it’s fall and weather is cooler!) Sorry about your water problems though!
Like you, I hold onto hope, hold onto Jesus, hold onto His word.
Great post, Mary. Love you!!
BEAUTIFUL POST.
This–> Let us hold UNSWERVINGLY to the hope we profess, for he who promised is FAITHFUL. –
I can only say thank God the only flooding we’ve had lately is from an older cat who seems to have taken a dislike to the litter boxes. I don’t know if he’s getting senile, or just not happy with us at the moment, but I’m not especially happy with him right now either. Except for him, literal flooding in my house usually involves my cursed septic tank…and those are floods I never, ever want to see again. Unfortunately they’ve happened four times in the almost six years we’ve owned the house.
But those seem to be easier to deal with than metaphorical floods. I’ve had those going on for the past few months and am ready for some good old-fashioned BORING. Too many deadlines, a 20 month old computer that committed a murder/suicide (RIP hard drive – the files I hadn’t gotten around to backing up yet). But even those things are put in perspective when you find you need a filling replaced…and can’t get an appointment for three days.
I don’t envy you the late pregnancy insomnia (I think it’s our brain and body preparing us for several months of sleep deprivation when we bring the babies home). Reading the list make me really glad I’m done with having kids. While I love my kids, and usually loved being pregnant, not everything was fun. Especially the heartburn. Check with your doctor, but the best thing I’ve ever found for that is 2 tablespoons of organic apple cider vinegar with 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of baking soda and a little water. I never buy antacids anymore because they never worked as well – or as quickly – as this stuff does.
Here’s hoping your flooding issues are over for a long time to come. :)
Thank you for this encouragement! When I get these feelings, I remember when the children of Israel were at the Red Sea with the Egyptians charging toward them and Moses said, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” (Ex 14) The Lord will fight for you and me too! We need only to hold our peace! (close your mouth and be still!!!!) Love this!
I am having a hard time seeing the light at the end of the tunnel lately…I loved hearing your post because I am having a hard time “holding on”. Thanks for the encouragement.
Hi Mary, I am a gramma now with college & graduated grandkids, so I remember going thru some of those very things you made it thru. Brings to mind a familiar phrase, “what doesn’t kill me makes me stronger”. How many times have you gone thru what seems like a trajedy at the time & looked back on it later, lesson learned, and had a good laugh, many times over. After my daughter’s birthday celebration a few Januarys ago, she called and said, “mom, my whole family room is under 6 inches of water!” We grabbed our shop vac to go suck up the water, called insurance company & they sent out a crew of men who worked thru the night with huge machines & fans to get rid of the water. Lost a night of sleep, but have laughed so many years about it all. Of course, God sustains us thru so many of these days in our lives, often I wonder what the lesson is teaching me.
Love your writing style. And, think about it, how much did it help you telling us this story about your day? Therapeutic…..in itself. Kay
Thank you so much for your encouragement and sharing your experience with us, Kay!!
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