Life can be messy. Cleaning up after a mess can be frustrating and difficult. How do we get from being in a mess, to being blessed beyond the mess? I’m sure that my beloved Sister would not have taken me seriously two months ago if I had poured out these words to her. Often it is only after we have come through the fire, soot, etc. can we really appreciate hindsight. In my dear Sisters situation, it only took a matter of minutes to see the blessing.
Psalm 91:11
11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.
The house is normally filled with the sounds of laughter of grandchildren. The evenings would normally be busy with playing with Nana and Paw, getting ready for bed with a story and goodnight kisses. Sleeping beauties would have been tucked in bed in their own rooms, the joy of having loving grandparents…but not tonight.
An uneventful night with just her and her husband, both tired from the normal work day. Sleep. Tomorrow, the sun will shine and the day will start anew. She has jokingly has said.. “I wish I had a maid!” She closes the doors behind her that lead to the downstairs area. No need to heat more than you have to in this cold winter. All is quiet, another day has come to a close.
Psalm 46:10
Be still, and know that I am God;
Morning awakens to another day. She notices the headache, but not all that unusual. She’s a little more sleepy than normal. Tired. Still yet, she knows she is blessed to go to work and teach about the God she knows. Then life happened. Messy life shows up.
They notice the film that coats their pajamas. Something is not right. Where could all of this soot have come from? They make their way to the downstairs. The door is opened, and in an instant, they are engulfed with a rolling black cloud.
Jeremiah 29:11-13
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
A faulty heating unit, hissing through the dark hours, would cover their entire home with its black soot. Destruction was rampant in less than 24 hours, life just became messy. Only by Grace, had there been no explosion and only by Grace had they been awakened to see the morning. Blessed beyond the mess.
It would be 56 days later…. weeks of dealing with insurance claims, and clean up, and hours of feeling helpless before they would be transferred from living in a Hotel during the holidays to the home they knew. Yeah, that’s hard-messy life to deal with.
She lost things she can never repair – damaged furniture, keepsakes and sooted crevices that she will always see. Although most of it can be replaced, my sister could not have been. She knows this. Blessed beyond her mess. She has been weary and worn, but most of all she has been strong for her family and a testimony to those around her. God sees.. God hears. He bottled her tears.
How many times has God gone before you? Detained you in your busy day, only to notice you were taken out of harms way further down the road you travel? He has plans for you. Good plans. Life will happen, and yes, it will get messy…really messy at times, but He can work in the midst of our messes. He will give us Beauty for Ashes… even Beauty for Soot!
She has no doubt why her grandchildren and daughter were not there that night. She has no doubt why she chose to shut that door leading to the downstairs. Divine intervention, hiding under His wings.
God is faithful in all things. He blesses beyond our messes!
Don’t take one of your days for granted, look for the blessings and press through the messy parts!
The ChatterBox 
G-d is GREAT and his LOVE for us never ceases to amaze me… even in my own muddled mess…