There is a stomach flu going around. We found out about it around 3:00 a.m on the Saturday morning. My husband and I awoke to moans and groans coming from our youngest son’s bedroom. To our surprise, he had gotten sick all over the carpet. When I say all over the carpet, I mean there was smelly, slimy, lumpy, yellow mush covering a space about three feet by three feet in front of his bed. I’m not kidding y’all. After a long pause, my husband said, “I think I’m gonna be sick.”
This statement was made from a man who had no trouble changing dirty diapers and cleaning up vomit before. That’s just how bad it was. It was one of those moments when you question why you became a parent in the first place.
We cleaned for two hours on the carpet before we concluded it would have to be taken up and destroyed by fire. With that decision made, we both showered (separately) in order to disinfect ourselves and returned to bed. My husband tossed and turned. I could hear him adding up the cost of new carpet in his mind. Did I mention he was an accountant?
Anyway…later that morning, he woke me with a new plan. “I went out and rented a carpet cleaner while you were still sleeping.” He said with a certain pride in his voice. “It only cost $20 dollars plus the cleaning solution.”
Oh, great. I thought to myself. More cleaning. It’s just how I planned spending my holiday weekend.
As it turned out, those machines are pretty nifty! After my husband finished scrubbing the carpet, it looked like new. Better yet, it didn’t smell anymore either. I have to admit renting a carpet cleaner was a great idea. It was a big relief knowing we didn’t have to spend a few hundred dollars on new carpet too.
“All is well that ends well.” I concluded upon my inspection of the room. “Let’s cleaner’ up, honey, and taker’ back.” I added. That’s when my husband hit me with another idea.
“Well, I was thinking since we had the machine we should clean all the carpets in the house.”
I know. He’s a strange cookie. But he’s my cookie. And we cleaned the entire house with that thing. I didn’t like it at first. It’s definitely NOT how I planned to spend my weekend. BUT after we were finished, I was glad we did it. As I sat admiring my freshly cleaned carpets, I thought about how God takes something bad in our lives and works it out for good—even the small stuff!
The truth is if no good came out of a bad situation, then God wouldn’t allow it. There has to be something deep inside of us that knows for certain God is in control of all things and can turn any tragedy into triumph. When we believe this, we can overcome any trial because we realize that they are divinely permitted. God orchestrates them in such a way that the thing that could have paralyzed us only motivates us. In my case, a messy situation that I wanted to run from ended up motivating me to clean—causing something really good to came out of the bad situation.
I know that’s a deep truth to apply to these circumstances when so much worse can and has probably happened in your life. But the principle is the same. And, it’s how I live my life. Each day I seek to see God at work in my life. Each day, He is there.
By the way, my son is feeling much better!
Zoe Elmore says
I just love you friend and your posts! Glad to know the stomach flu didn't slow you up. I bet you cleaned up any remaining flu germs with that carpet cleaner. A house full of clean carpets, what a way to begin the year.
Happy New Year sweet firend!!
DANNY & JAN says
Micca – You are truly a gift from God. So sorry your son was sick but so thankful for your post! I am starting a "Micca" folder! I have all of your post for the last couple of weeks "starred" in my email – must print and put in folder – you are so spot on with your encouragement!With God in control and your encouragement – help is on the way! Thank you, Jesus!
Oh Dear says
I wish that when we got carpet I would have asked "how well does it clean after excessivebodily fluids?" They should actually provide that information on the tag!
You are right about what God is doing and teaching us. We sat for an hour waiting for our key to work in our vehicle with our children (8,5,and 2.) We were traveling back home over the holidays. My Dear contacted someone to help us and then magically the key worked and we were on the road again. I wondered what contact we made while waiting advanced The Kingdom-it could have been our children, how we kept one another from frustration….we may never know. But we sure gave out a "Thank You God!" when our prayers were answered.
Teresa says
Just read your 12/29 P31 devotional about self-pity and popped over. I am healthy but I feel lonely because I have no close friends where I live I tend to feel sorry for myself. Prior to reading your devotional I had been thanking God for my blessings and praying to him for contentment no matter what the circumstances. How amazed was I when I saw your post and also your CD about contentment? I hope everyone is well.