There are so many things that I take for granted. Water, for instance. I hardly give the fact that I have a basically unlimited supply of clean water right there in my own house any consideration . . . until it's not available to me.
Our city has been in a water crisis for a few days now. Due to extremely cold temperatures, we've had, I think, somewhere between 70 and 100 breaks in the main water pipes. This has caused a great decrease in water pressure, and many people have lost water altogether. All of us are having to boil our water for drinking. Therefore, panic has ensued. Sort-of. Basically, there have been runs on all the stores for bottled water, and a lot of us are saving buckets of water to aid in the flushing of toilets, etc. At our house, my husband explained the principle of "If it's yellow, let it mellow; if it's brown, flush it down" to our children. However, when my five-year-old was faced with a situation this afternoon that was not either/or, she screamed to me from the bathroom: "MOM!! What happens if we tee-tee AND poop??" Quite the crisis. (We went with flushing.)
Actually, the kids haven't thought the water crisis has been so bad. First of all, we have yet to lose ours altogether. Secondly, they got to get out of school early on Monday and then were out today and will be out tomorrow, too. Vacation!
These minor inconveniences serve as a reminder to me about all the people around the world who do not have access to clean water like we do. Many people have to actually go and retrieve their water every single day. Some people have to walk miles just to get to it and then carry it all the way back home. No nice bottles or jugs with lids. Certainly no variety in brands of water. They just hope it's not so infested that it will make them sick.
Us? We whine if we can't flush the toilet or take a shower for a couple of days. We think it's terrible if we have to wait for our water to boil for an entire minute before we can consume it. Or if we can't do laundry or dishes (Okay, that's not so bad.) in our automatic machines. And if we have to go seek water out--well, we complain if they don't have the brand we like or if it's expensive or heavy and we have to carry it all the way back to our car and then lug it into the house.
Boo-hoo.
I confess that I've done my share of whimpering when having to go without water. But I'm really hoping that God will use these times to remind me of just how easy I have it, because I do. I'm very spoiled. And it's sinful for me to feel so entitled.
"Every good and perfect gift is from above . . . " (James 1:17). This includes water.
3 comments:
Very well said. Just as I have been thinking. . .
Wow! A water crisis in MS! Sounds like Cameroon. :) The difference is that, when we're in Cameroon, we expect such obstacles and are, therefore, always prepared. I imagine it's harder to deal with when you haven't perfected your back-up system.
I remember liking such "crises" when I was a kid - like when we got to stay at the CLC at church with everyone for several days during an ice storm. I also remember sitting in the bathtub eating peanut butter with Joshua once during a tornado warning. It was so exciting as a kid. :) But as you're saying, this is obviously spoken from one whose basic needs were never unmet even during such crises.
Dont remember eating peanut butter in the bathtub with you Laurie, but I definitely remember living in the CLC and agree, it was awesome! Carrie, I agree with you as well, we take so much for granted. We went a couple days without heat, I didnt even have to sleep here but realized how much I take having heat in the house everytime I walk in for granted. Hope the water crises ends soon.
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