Thank God for late nights!!

Warning: Pollyanna type post ahead.

You see, by and large, I'm one of those people who likes to look at the glass as being, not just 1/2 full, but 1/2 full with free refills :) If there is a bright side, and there pretty much always is, I'm there to find it.

So, why am I thankful for late nights? Well, because it so happens, as I was sitting at my 'puter this early am, my ears were perked by a steady tappy, drippy, thumpy noise. I couldn't fully identify it at first, but I had a nagging suspicion it was a water leak of one kind or another (the noise seemed to be coming from our half bath/laundry room). It was rather slow, so I waited for a few minutes to see if it continued, then labored up from my chair (remember I'm 35 weeks pregnant :D) and went to investigate.

Ok, so, I quickly find my suspicions were correct, and it was indeed water that was dripping, from my toilet no less. By an interesting, and I like to say, God ordained circumstance, there happened to be a baby potty training seat (you know, the kind that sits on the toilet to size it down so the little tyke doesn't take their first swimming lesson in the john?) sitting RIGHT UNDER where the leak was. This was, as I said, God ordained, in my opinion, because the material of the seat was what made the water drip audible. I'm not convinced I would have ever heard or noticed it, had it not been dripping on that vinyl seat. So, thank You, LORD!!!

Moving on, I'm wiping down the side of the toilet and silently praying that God will clue me in to where in the world this leak is coming from. And, though unvoiced, pleading that it will be more than simple, because, frankly, our house is sold, we're buying a "new" one, and we REALLY don't need to be replacing a toilet. Not that any time is good, really, to be replacing a toilet (though I'm sure I could find you the upside if I really tried *snort*), but, honestly, I've got other things on my mind at this point. God, in His graciousness, VERY quickly led me to the source, which was a lovely crack that ran from the top to almost halfway down the holding tank. On goes my fix-it hat. First, we try out the good ole, lower the water level and see if that takes it under where the crack starts. No such luck. M'kay, step two. Again, by God ordained "chance", I just happened to have been working in the garage a couple of days ago, packing anything and everything, and I found a lovely, unopened spare tube of caulking. I left that little bugger out, Praise Jesus, thinking it just might come in handy for a couple of things. Yes indeedy.

Three minutes later, caulking has been applied and I send off a thank you note to my Father in heaven, as well as my Dad, thanking both that Dad taught me from a young age how to fix anything and everything. I can't tell you how handy that knowledge has been over the years.

So, while late night drips aren't the pride of life, it's a heck of a lot better than finding a massive puddle in my bathroom tomorrow morning ;)

Sweet dreams!

From the mouths of babes

This particular insight did not come from one of my own, so I will not pretend to take credit for it. BUT, a fabulous Mom I interact with on the raising godly tomatoes website has a wonderful teenage son who brought the following verse to her attention:
Ecclesiastes 8:11
¹¹ "Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil"

That's powerful. Take some time to really read that over and think about what it means, particularly as it pertains to child-rearing. If you are allowing your children to get away with things, and not promptly disciplining (executing a sentence) their hearts begin to fully turn to do evil.

Our responsibility as parents is often times daunting. But, we have God's promises to up hold us:
Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it."

Don't neglect your duty as parents. You do your sweet blessings no favors in letting them carry on in sin. Chastise them while there is still time. You will find joy in seeing their hearts desire to turn away from evil. Truly, as you guide them into righteousness, they begin to desire that guidance, knowing somehow that it is best. When you look into the face of your little one that you've only just finished rebuking and they're smiling ear to ear and saying a heartfelt "I love you" you KNOW God's way is the BEST way!