During the early part of the summer my stove stopped working.
No stove.
That’s right.
I woke up in the morning and my stove ceased working.
I had paid extra for some frozen Mirabelle’s croissants.
We were going to indulge in the yummy treat!
(You should try them! Soooo good)
I opened the oven to check on the progress and I was horrified!
I checked the temperature of the stove, I doubled checked.
I could tell just from opening the oven door that something was amiss.
Little did I know.
I though this was judgement for the splurge on Mirabelle’s croissants.
I really didn’t need them.
It was total indulgence.
I pondered the situation.
You see in January I had bought a brand new stove.
This stove was less than 6 months old.
I purchased an extended warranty.
So.
I called Sears when I discovered my failed Croissants!!
I was told I needed to wait 10 days for the repair man to come out to assess what was wrong.
I thought that seemed like an awful long time.
I waited; the repair man came and fixed the issue.
It worked for a month and then stopped working again.
Again, I called Sears.
I used my grill and crock pot.
I searched for recipes for on the stove cooking!
About 6 weeks into this journey, my washer stopped working on the spin cycle!
No stove, no washer, no problem!
Again, I called Sears.
After about a week and me explaining I was already without a stove, a technician came out.
He then needed to order parts.
I had to wait.
He fixed my washer and said I was good to go.
I ran a load of clothes through the washer and. . .
It did not spin out the clothes.
I was still without a stove and a washer.
Again, I had to make a call to Sears.
It took almost 8 weeks, repeated failure’s to repair, multiple calls to Sears and much prayer before both appliances were fixed.
In order to live without a stove or a washer one needs to be prepared and plan.
Both words not in my vocabulary.
I am not a planner by nature and I pretty much wing it most of the time.
During this season neither of those were an option.
I entertained guests in my home for a month without a stove.
A college room mate came to visit and I cooked for her with out a stove.
It can be done.
I had the blessing of a stove and washer at the Guest House so with preparation and planning I was able to prepare certain things there.
A dear friend came and took a basket of towels for me to help.
During this time I became very frustrated with Sears.
Why is it so easy to get angry and reactive?
I felt helpless.
Things were out of my control.
No one would listen to me.
They would treat me as if this was a first time caller, when I called.
My phone number mysteriously disappeared during this time, so every time I called I needed to go through a list of phone numbers while listening to someone tell me I am not in their system,
even though I had just spoken with someone on the phone for more than an hour the day before.
I became frustrated, angry.
I was inconvenienced.
I was convicted though.
My attitude, while anger was justified, needed to be held in check.
It was not ok for me to display my anger.
I could be forceful and persistent, but it was not ok to display anger.
I find we are so reactive these days.
Emotions cloud all judgement.
There came a time when I needed to just step back and wait.
I have blogged repeatedly about my inability to wait well.
Looking up
I had bought a new stove in January to not have to deal with a stove that doesn’t work or isn’t safe.
Here, less than 6 months later that stove does not work at all, nor has it worked in months.
I had a maintenance plan on the washer and I was expecting better service.
I was inconvenienced to say the least.
I tried to justify being angry.
God was clear.
No anger.
This became real one afternoon about 4 weeks with no stove.
I called to try to get somewhere.
I went out to the porch.
I had cleared the afternoon so there would be no distractions.
I called and a woman answered.
A woman who could barely speak English.
God told me to take a deep breath.
I exercised patience with this woman like I have never before.
I could barely understand a word she said.
She couldn’t find my phone number.
She couldn’t find me in the system.
She kept saying sorry for the inconvience.
I kept saying, “Ma’ma we’re beyond an inconvience, this is bad business.”
But I was calm.
I had a peace.
This woman was working.
She had a job.
I didn’t need to make her day awful just because I was feeling awful.
I didn’t get anywhere with that woman.
Yet, I hung up the phone with a peace.
It wasn’t until about 6 weeks later that I finely got somewhere with an Associate on the phone.
I grew from this experience.
I allowed God to work the rough spots out.
Even though I was justified in my anger.
My expression would not have been ok.
Today I have a fixed stove and a working washing machine.
I am so grateful.
I am still dealing with trying to work out the details of why I had to wait so long.
I know it’s just a stove.
In the grand scheme of things, obviously, we didn’t starve.
I had a grill, stove top, access to a stove when Guests weren’t in the Guest House,
a microwave, enough prepared foods at a grocery to feed us, etc.
I know it’s just a washer.
It was just frustrating.
I needed to take time each day to make phone calls, prepare and plan.
It wasn’t until I was able to get myself out of the way that I could even see lessons in the struggle.
The blessings of the Guest House.
Offers of use of appliances.
Offers of folks who can repair appliances.
I want to learn from things in this life.
I want to grow and be changed into the likeness of Christ.
Each situation I am in brings me closer to the foot of the cross.
Psalm 27:14
Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
