The last two weeks have been challenging to say the least. I have shared with some friends the things I have been through, such as the dishwasher getting clogged, washing machine leaking all over the floor, the air conditioning going out in the house, AC condenser going out on my vehicle, having to buy a new toilet, kids have all been sick… I seemed to be sick all the time, had one kiddo in the emergency room who sent us on to a larger hospital for possible surgery, and major life changing decisions had to be made that honestly were scary to make.
During this time, I have felt so sorry for myself… It was a lot to deal with. I was sick three times and on three different antibiotics. I was exhausted, and I fell out of my routine. I gave up that quiet time with the Lord in the mornings so I could get extra sleep and stopped my personal Bible reading and learning. I would still pray throughout the day, but it just seemed off, and made me feel off.
I get so frustrated with myself that when times get tough, I try to handle everything on my own ‘till I was literally at the point of exhaustion. Looking back…why? I slap my forehead with my hand. I have been writing for this blog since January 2023 trying to encourage people to lean on the Lord, don’t fight your battles alone and I fall into the enemy’s trap.
I have the following verse posted around the house as a reminder for myself and everyone in our home.
1 Thessaloanians 5:28: Be joyful always; pray continually;
give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
The enemy literally took the Bible verse I had hanging in my house and tried to cheat me out of my blessings because I was too focused on what was going wrong to remember to be joyful always, pray continually and give thanks to God in all circumstances.
Looking back, I can see how the AC repair man
was able to fix the AC the next day
and it was covered under warranty.
I was able to fix the dishwasher myself
and only charged myself with a pat on the back.
The washing machine was repaired
with a tiny bit of some sort of magical sealant/adhesive
that he had and was only charged for the initial diagnostic fee.
I had the money in the bank to cover the part for the car.
My husband was able to fix the plumbing/toilet
problem without having to pay a plumber to come in.
The hospital my doctor
is affiliated with has a 24/7 telehealth option
that I didn’t even have to leave the house.
The medications were called in to my pharmacy
who delivered them to my house….for free!
As frustrated as I was to drive to a larger hospital
in the middle of the night, my child did not need surgery,
that was a totally answered prayer.
And those major life decisions wouldn’t
have happened fifty years ago because
there would not have been any options.
I am so thankful that Jesus still loves me, in spite of all the times I stumble (which are a lot, physically and spiritually). I picked myself up out of my waller’n in self-pity, and dropped to my knees asking for forgiveness and thanked him for carrying me through and taking care of everything.
Now I need to put up more copies of that verse around the house because apparently two are not enough to keep me straight.
You can contact the author, Tammy Bassett on Facebook or email: moppinguptheblessings@gmail.com
Tammy Bassett is a speaker and the author of the Mopping Up Your Blessings blog. She was born and raised a country girl who’s roots run deep in the mountains of Appalachia. She has worked a wide variety of jobs ranging from radio to insurance agent. She is now a stay-at-home mom, who along with her husband, are raising five daughters (ages 10 to 25), seven cats and one dog. She uses her accounting and business administration degree to help run her busy household.
She loves spending time with her family and homeschooling her two youngest children. She spends a lot of her day trying to conquer the obstacles in her home. With four of her children still living at home the laundry pile (nicknamed Mt. Wash-more) is her nemesis. Some days she wins and some days she doesn’t, but she always gets up the next day and tries again.
She also loves camping with her family as long as there is a camper with air conditioning, a comfy bed, and indoor plumbing. Her downfall is her obsession with iced coffee. Thankfully the closest Starbucks is an hour from her home, or she would be broke. She also loves reading and learning new skills such as homesteading, being more self-sustainable, gardening and foraging.
She relates the most to her favorite animal, the alpaca. They are both kind of weird and look like they are two months past due on a haircut. Much like alpacas she makes a gentle humming noise when happy and if irritated she often stamps the ground with her feet. Her husband has refused to buy her an alpaca much to her disappointment.
But more than anything, she loves the Lord and is growing more in her faith each day and hopes to inspire others to do the same. She wants everyone to understand that God’s grace is truly amazing and has changed her from the inside out and he can do the same for you.
by leaps and bounds 
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