Have you ever had one of those days?

The dog threw up at 11:30pm tonight and after all that happened today… why not? I was running downstairs because not only did Sarah clog the toilet upstairs, but she also used up all the toilet paper. Of course, I discovered this when I had an emergent need to use bathroom. Sigh! So, I raced downstairs to only discover in the darkness a pile of throw up by the foot of the stairs and a very pathetic looking dog.

It just wasn’t a good day and it certainly was not a good day with Sarah and toilets!

Early this morning, I was helping at a wedding at church and I was busy setting up when Jack called. I knew from the moment he spoke things were not good.

‘Mom, don’t panic…’ (never a good sign) ‘and don’t worry about rushing home because I know you have the wedding, but Sarah overflowed the upstairs toilet and it is raining in the dining room and kitchen.’

Raining?! Oh no!!

He continued, “The dining room light fixture is filled with water and water is coming down from the archway into the kitchen. It is also dripping into the basement. I stopped it upstairs and I used every towel in the house to clean it up, but it is still dripping.

I told him to make to sure Sarah didn’t turn on the dining room lights and to put tape over the light switch just to make sure. I confirmed with him that the toilet upstairs had stopped overflowing. I then said to call his Dad (who is away on a trip with Jim this weekend) to make sure I didn’t forget anything.

When I came home after cleaning up after the wedding, another clean-up was waiting for me with loads of wash and disinfecting floors. You would think that would be a full day of events. Nope. Later tonight I went into the downstairs bathroom after Sarah left it and it, too, was acting weird. It had no water in bowl, but the toilet was running. After taking off the lid and fixing the mechanics inside, it was working again.

What does this girl do to toilets?

I thought we were done with toilet issues, until she clogged the toilet upstairs again before bed.

So when I discovered the dog threw up, I put my head down and sighed.

I’m done.

I just stood at the base of the stairs for a moment. I just couldn’t believe it. I said to the Lord, “Is there a lesson that I need to learn today, Lord?? In my weakness You are strong? Because I feel so weak and worn out right now.”

I feel like I am operating on my own power (again, never a good sign). I have been living on fumes lately, and I feel it. (David was gone on a business trip this week, so I have been flying solo.) I confessed to the Lord that I need His strength because I am so weary.

My mind went to a Bible story that I have been thinking a lot about lately. It is found in 2 Kings 6. Elisha and his servant were surrounded by the Aramean army and the king was after Elisha. The servant woke up one morning to find the city was surrounded and he panicked. On their own power, they were no match to this army.

Elisha prayed, “’O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (2 Kings 6:17)

Today is a day that I need to remind myself that the God who surrounded Elisha’s problems, is the same God who surrounds me and my problems. I need to open my eyes to see these bad days, these frustrations of life that wear me down, may at times be too much for me, but not to the God of armies who fights on my behalf.

God surrounding me? Now that is a good sign!