It is Day 4 of no hot water, no dishwasher, and no hot water heater. Okay, I realize that I am spoiled. The water often goes out in Russia, and the hot water regularly goes out sometimes for a week at a time. We have been blessed in that we have a hot water heater in our apartment (that just happens to be broken right now), so thus far we haven't felt the effects. And last time I lived in Ukraine without hot water, I didn't have 4 kids. So being without hot water really makes me appreciate it. We have been boiling water numerous times a day to keep with the dishes. Not having decent paper plates adds a lot to the dish load also. Boiling water to wash hands. Boiling water to sponge bath for those of us who care. Boiling water to clean the floor. And for now the clothes get washed in cold water. But I just found out from our landlord that the hot water goes back on tonight - yea! Showers and baths for everyone!
When things are taken away from us, even for a brief time, we become acutely aware of how much we value those things. This happens all the time to all of us. Your husband goes out of town and you realize how much he does for your family. Your car dies and you realize how much you depend upon it for transportation. Someone in your family gets sick and you realize how important health is. And on and on. So it is a blessing when God temporarily takes things away from us so that we can remember what the truly important things are. He says not to worry about what we will eat or drink nor what we will wear, for our Heavenly Father knows that we need them. But instead to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to us as well (paraphrase from Matthew 6). We are not to worry about tomorrow for each day has enough trouble of itself. Living overseas just makes me realize this more than the average day in America. He does provide all these things, and what He wants is for you & I to seek Him above all the things that we tend to be so concerned about.
Lately I have had the privilege of having several neat conversations with my kids about spiritual things. Most recently my oldest came to me and told me that one of the boys outside had showed him some matches, and he & his friend told him in the little bit of Russian he knows, "No, I don't need that." I was able to have a good conversation with him about 1) the dangers of playing with matches and 2) about the fact that he was growing up and soon going to be facing lifestyle decisions. Unfortunately, boys in Russia as young as 10 are frequently introduced to smoking. I would guess that about 75% of Russians smoke, and there are very few "no-smoking" rules so it is everywhere. We began talking about temptations and how to respond if he was offered things he knew were wrong, and then that led us into a broader discussion about choosing the narrow path as a Christian and that didn't always mean the easy one. He immediately connected it to the book "Pilgrim's Progress" that we had recently read as a family. The next day while I was ironing, he began another discussion about how we know whether God is really real and how we get faith. Neat to see how the Spirit works when we least expect it.
The other conversation that I was able to have was with my 4 year old about having a clean heart. I talk to them a lot in terms of having a "dirty heart" and that Jesus gives us a "clean heart". So my 4 year old asked me how to get a clean heart. I think he thought Jesus would physically take out his heart and put a new one in. After explaining the gospel to him again in terms he could understand, I asked him if he wanted to ask Jesus for a clean heart. At first, he nodded, and then he got shy and didn't want to pray. However, I know seeds were planted. And as we continue to water them, I get excited about how God will make them grow in his little heart.
When things are taken away from us, even for a brief time, we become acutely aware of how much we value those things. This happens all the time to all of us. Your husband goes out of town and you realize how much he does for your family. Your car dies and you realize how much you depend upon it for transportation. Someone in your family gets sick and you realize how important health is. And on and on. So it is a blessing when God temporarily takes things away from us so that we can remember what the truly important things are. He says not to worry about what we will eat or drink nor what we will wear, for our Heavenly Father knows that we need them. But instead to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to us as well (paraphrase from Matthew 6). We are not to worry about tomorrow for each day has enough trouble of itself. Living overseas just makes me realize this more than the average day in America. He does provide all these things, and what He wants is for you & I to seek Him above all the things that we tend to be so concerned about.
Lately I have had the privilege of having several neat conversations with my kids about spiritual things. Most recently my oldest came to me and told me that one of the boys outside had showed him some matches, and he & his friend told him in the little bit of Russian he knows, "No, I don't need that." I was able to have a good conversation with him about 1) the dangers of playing with matches and 2) about the fact that he was growing up and soon going to be facing lifestyle decisions. Unfortunately, boys in Russia as young as 10 are frequently introduced to smoking. I would guess that about 75% of Russians smoke, and there are very few "no-smoking" rules so it is everywhere. We began talking about temptations and how to respond if he was offered things he knew were wrong, and then that led us into a broader discussion about choosing the narrow path as a Christian and that didn't always mean the easy one. He immediately connected it to the book "Pilgrim's Progress" that we had recently read as a family. The next day while I was ironing, he began another discussion about how we know whether God is really real and how we get faith. Neat to see how the Spirit works when we least expect it.
The other conversation that I was able to have was with my 4 year old about having a clean heart. I talk to them a lot in terms of having a "dirty heart" and that Jesus gives us a "clean heart". So my 4 year old asked me how to get a clean heart. I think he thought Jesus would physically take out his heart and put a new one in. After explaining the gospel to him again in terms he could understand, I asked him if he wanted to ask Jesus for a clean heart. At first, he nodded, and then he got shy and didn't want to pray. However, I know seeds were planted. And as we continue to water them, I get excited about how God will make them grow in his little heart.
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