Let's do another one: you don't know what you've got until it's gone.
Hows about one more: it's always darkest before dawn.
What am I talking about? Our week. Yes, I know it's only Tuesday, but it's been L O N G so far. I'm trying hard to spin it positively in my mind.
Sure, our car is not running and no one seems to know the issue ... But! At least we have my mom's van to drive. And! The car didn't crap out in the middle of a dark highway without cell service.
We currently have no heat ... But! We have a well-insulated roof over heads and neighbors who've loved on us when they didn't have to. And! We have a home warranty that keeps our costs relatively low.
And our front bathroom floor indicates that we have leak--somewhere. But! We have two other toilets we can use.
Our cats are keeping me awake all night long. But! They've caught four mice.
Our gas logs are refusing to light. But! We have space heaters courtesy of our heat guy and neighbors.
See? I'm finding the positive.
Last night, as I went in a fruitless search for electric blankets, I ran into an acquaintance. He listened to my lamintations, then responded, "There but for the grace of God go I."
I smiled, but really, it's a sad response. The heart of the saying has good intentions and implies a thankfulness from the speaker.
On the flip side, the core of the message implies that I have these maladies because I am not embraced with grace.
If I may mix my metaphors, I cry B.S..
To return to my cliches, our circumstances are just the way the cookie crumbles ...
And a funny thing about cookie crumbs: they come from something sweet and satisfying and are hard to sweep away.
Much like the Grace of God ... Which is what will surround us always and in all circumstances.
