Dana Rongione

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Life’s Little Luxuries

Have you ever noticed how quickly we can go from feeling blessed to feeling stressed? Take, for instance, our recent adventure with the fierce storm that wreaked havoc on our area. It not only knocked out our power but also damaged a water pump somewhere along our line. And just like that—no water!

The water company, bless their hearts, sent out a message early Saturday morning explaining the situation and promising to have everything sorted by afternoon. Spoiler alert: it wasn't. Then they assured us it would be fixed by evening. Again, no dice. This merry-go-round of promises continued through Sunday and into Monday, leaving us feeling rather like contestants on a survival reality show.

You don't truly appreciate the miracle of indoor plumbing until you're hauling buckets of borrowed water just to flush the toilet! And don't even get me started on the creative ways we found to wash dishes. Let's just say paper plates became our new best friends.

By Monday afternoon, when the water finally decided to grace us with its presence, I nearly wept at the sound of that first splutter from the tap. The simple act of washing my hands felt like a luxury spa treatment!

This whole ordeal reminded me of how we take God's daily provisions for granted. The Bible tells us in James 1:17, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

Those "good gifts" include the simple things we barely notice until they're gone—running water, electricity, a warm bed, or even the ability to make a cup of tea without having to first calculate if we have enough bottled water left.  (I need my tea!!!)

But here's the real spiritual nugget: just as our physical comforts can disappear in an instant, we must ensure our spiritual well-being isn't dependent on temporary circumstances. While creature comforts may come and go, God's presence remains constant. As Hebrews 13:8 reminds us, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."

Perhaps these occasional disruptions to our comfortable routines serve as divine wake-up calls, prompting us to examine what we truly value and where we place our trust. Are we more concerned about our temporary inconveniences than our eternal condition? Do we spend more time grumbling about minor disruptions than praising God for His countless blessings?

The next time you turn on a tap and water flows freely, take a moment to thank God for that simple blessing. But more importantly, thank Him for being our never-failing source of living water, the kind that never runs dry and doesn't require a functioning pump to access!