Finding the Blessing in the Icky Jobs

Do you ever have to do something you hate?

Of course you do. You live in the real world.

Do you ever let that thing wreck your whole day?

If your answer is no, then God bless you and thank you for clicking by, but this may not be the post for you.

If your answer is yes, then God bless you too, and perhaps you can get some good out of this.

Today, I had to do something I hate. Something I've been putting off for days. Something that just couldn't wait any longer.

Today, I had to shovel the ashes out of our outdoor furnace. On most days this is merely an irritating chore, but this week we've had nearly gale-force winds all week (thus my procrastination--sometimes there's a good reason for it).

On super windy days, shoveling out the furnace goes from merely irritating to truly horrendous. You don't just smell like smoke, you get ashes in your hair, eyes, ears, nose.... That shower you had this morning. Ha! You're gonna want another because now you smell just like the inside of that wood furnace.

Today, for some reason (we'll call that reason God...because I'm pretty sure it's Him), this truly horrendous job, just wasn't. As I was shoveling and holding my breath...and spitting and blinking and sneezing (because I just can't hold my breath that long), God gave me a little perspective.

Thank you, Lord that my husband has a job that supports our family. Which is why he is not home, and I have to do this icky task. Thank you also that he would be more than willing to do it himself if he was here.

Thank you, Lord that because of his hard work and dedication I get to stay home with our children...and perform this icky task--and others--for them.

Thank you, Lord that we have a home to heat and that we have this furnace to heat our home and our water (which is so awesome! You haven't had a hot shower until you've had a "water-heated-by-your-outdoor-furnace" hot shower).

Thank you, Lord for providing us with wood to fill our furnace, to heat our home and water, and make piles of ashes for me to shovel out when the wind is blowing 30 miles an hour.

Thank you, Lord for giving me the strength to do this job because I know there are many who would love to, but cannot.

Thank you, Lord that I actually didn't get that shower this morning, so smelling like the inside of the furnace isn't really that big of a step down.

I'm reminded of times in my life when I've faced actual trials that really shook my world, the death of a loved one or a child's illness. God has used those situations to teach me this lesson on a much grander scale. To remind me of blessings even greater than those I've already mentioned.

 "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Note, it doesn't say to give thanks for all things but in all things. Some things are just bad and impossible to be thankful for. But with God's help we will notice the blessings exposed by the trying circumstances, and we can be thankful for them.

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What about you?

Is there a job you hate and procrastinate that would be easier with a dose of this kind of thankfulness?

Are you going through one of those big, hard, scary trials where God is teaching you to be thankful for blessings you didn't even realize you had until now?