Well doesn’t it feel good to have the lights back on and be able to use electricity!? I heard it called “Irma-geddon” yesterday at church. Irma-geddon came through loud and clear for a lot of us last week! If you’re like me, you’re sitting at your desk this morning trying to catch up on all the work you couldn’t do last week. But while it wasn’t fun to throw away all the food in our freezer and while walking around the house after 8 PM with a flashlight got old, I’ve gotta say that Irma-geddon taught me some good lessons as well. As we look back at last week and move forward with a “back-to-normal” week, let’s not forget what Irma taught us.
- Be grateful for what we have.
I Thessalonians 5:18 – “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
We were sitting on the couch Wednesday night in the dark when all of a sudden the lights flashed on and the air conditioner kicked in. My wife started cheering because it was such a happy moment! I realized that it’s often not until we lose something that we stop taking it for granted. Unfortunately in our society we’re used to our every day conveniences. And there is nothing wrong with those conveniences – we’re allowed by God to enjoy the comforts of life He gives to us. But what we often fail to do is thank Him for those conveniences. I realize that I don’t think I had ever before thanked God for electricity and air. Let’s not wait for Irma to happen before we’re grateful!
- Hold tight to the things that matter
James 4:14 – “…For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeared for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”
Sitting in a dark house without wifi and TV, unable to work, makes you reevaluate what’s really important. I don’t think at the end of our lives we’ll wish we had worked more, watched more TV, or gotten good at our hobbies. I think we’ll wish that we had spent more time with God and our families. Sometimes God has to take away some things to remind us what life is really all about.
- Joy is found in serving others
John 15:11-12 – “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”
When something like Irma happens, we can either be discouraged at what happened to us, or we can find joy in helping others. The truth is, someone else probably has it worse. We can be grateful for what we do have instead of grumbling over what we don’t have, and we can spend our time serving others instead of spending time looking at our own situation. That’s what Jesus did – He loved so much, He served. And He says that doing likewise will bring us joy.
Irma-geddon is over, but let’s not forget the lessons she taught us! I hope you all have a great “back-to-normal” week.