Giving Thanks When Things are a Pain
(3 of 4 featured posts by Dennis Wadley)
This week has been packed with little pains. Most of them are not the kind that hit you over the head, but rather they are the annoying kind of struggles that take up your time and disturb the flow of life. Here’s a glimpse of what has been nagging us:
Cars: One of the Bridges of Hope vehicles blew its air conditioner (not a nice thing when the summer temps in South Africa are hitting the 90’s). We found out that it will cost over $1,000 to fix it, so at least for now, we are sweating it out. Another of the vehicles decided to quit working on the highway yesterday. That same vehicle just recovered from a major water leak and an exhaust pipe the fell off. Our personal car also visited the shop last week…what a pain.
Phones: We are attempting to transfer our internet and telephone service to a new location for our office. The phone company has been sending us in circles and we can’t even get a commitment to a date for the installation.
Water heater(aka Geyser): ours blew this week and had to be replaced.
Any one of these would be a pain, but together, they have weighed heavy, especially as we have been working hard to prepare for the New Year and for the arrival of two teams: one from Rolling Hills Covenant and one from Steelhead Advertising.
We determined today with our staff to give thanks in all things. That means when the phone company sends us to four different people each stating that it isn’t their job but the next person can handle it, that we give thanks for phones. That means when the car breaks down again, we thank God that we have cars. That means that when we think of how much the repair bill was for the geyser, we thank God for hot water. It is a discipline, but one that changes perspective on life and even adds some laughter to things that otherwise could make you want to cry.
Here are a few prayer requests from some of the orphans we are working with in Philippi (a township just outside of Cape Town, South Africa). When I read these, I get a kick in the rear and a reminder that I can give thanks in my little pains:
“Dear God, It’s me again. Thank you for everything you have done for me. You gave me love and you lead me. Thank you God for everything. And keep on doing what you are doing to me. Amen!!”
“Dear God, help me rebuild my confidence. Let me be confident and stand up for myself against those trying to discriminate against me. Your child, --Nono”
“You Know? I don’t know what Jesus wants from me. He gives me hard things for my life that I don’t know what to do with. Sometimes I feel like he doesn’t love me or look after me or maybe he is playing with me. Does God love me or not. There are so many things that hold my wish. I do have dreams for the future but God is letting my dreams down. Amen From…Nomofili Patricia Bokwe”
Help me out here…how have you found it possible to practice the command to “Give thanks in everything?”
Dennis Wadley
Bridges of Hope International
Dennis@bridges-of-hope.org