Here is something my mama would say when I thought I experienced something bad or had a bad day. ‘It’s not so bad that it couldn’t be worse’. Now this was not her being insensitive, but reflective in helping me think about my situation or my day. How compared to someone else that might be going through a tougher situation than mine, it might not be as bad as I thought it was. I adopted this quote over the years where it automatically pops into my mind and ushers out whatever I’m dealing with in that moment that I could count as bad because the circumstances could be worse. With this I learned that indeed there will be some rough days but embrace them and accept them just don’t stay in that place. I actually think about how it could be worse and it has helped me to overcome those situations that seem unpleasant at first or at least have a more positive perspective regarding it where I am grateful for it. Have you experienced an avalanche of circumstances that left you feeling overwhelmed? What was your response?
This quote came in handy recently. I had a series of plumbing events that took place at my home during last month and I was left flabbergasted.
Challenging Surprises
August 15th - The pilot light went out on my hot water tank that evening and I re-lit it before going to bed.
August 16th - At 3:30 am as I was getting ready for work, there was no hot water. I checked the pilot light on the water tank and it was out again. I could not relight it again until I came home from work at 3:30 pm.
August 17th - As I prepared for a play date that morning, I discovered the carpet was damp in the room that is adjacent to the garage where the hot water tank resides. I checked inside the garage and saw water in the spill tray around the tank along with evidence of water stains on the concrete driveway inside the garage. My hot water tank had flushed out the water. I called the plumbing company and they sent a plumber out that morning. I thought, ‘It’s not so bad that it couldn’t be worse’, so I’m still going to make my play-date. While at my play date, the plumber called to let me know the water tank needed replacing and I told him to go for it. Yay a new bill, but hey, it could be worse.
August 20th - During the night it was warm in my room, therefore I decided to check my air conditioner to make sure it was still running. After turning it off and then back on, it took longer than usual to come back on. I spoke with the a/c company the next day and they scheduled a technician to come out during the afternoon to inspect the unit. After speaking with the tech, he advised that the a/c unit was working fine, but he noticed some water in the spill tray around my new water tank. I thought...it can’t be…I just got that unit installed only a few days ago. The plumbing company was contacted and they scheduled the same plumber who installed the new water tank to come out the next day. Later that evening, my sister sent me a picture of a corroded seal that was in her toilet tank.
What else could happen?
August 21st - At 4:30 am as I entered my garage before getting in my car to head to work, I thought to check the water tank for more water. The same amount of water was still in the spill tray but I noticed a damp spot outside of the drain piping for the tank. I was puzzled thinking, where could this water have come from? I looked up to the ceiling and oh my...there was a water bubble dripping from the ceiling. In that moment, I was discombobulated. There was nothing I could do but get in my car and drive to work. When I arrived at work, I called the plumbing company to let them know I needed the plumber to arrive sooner than later. The plumber arrived before 9 am and I left work briefly to meet him.
My sister had taken pictures of the water damage to the walls in the spare room and told me the carpet was wet. When I arrived at home the plumber was there and told me that it wasn’t the new water tank that leaked, but the water line to my water filtration system had broken during the cycle that runs at 2 am. Well, that was the straw that broke the camels back lol. Though I believed the situation could have been worse than it was, I was overwhelmed by the compounding plumbing issues one after another. I called the company for the water system and they sent a tech out that afternoon who replaced the water line and said someone would contact me regarding the water damage. Before I could return to work, I was so overwhelmed with heaviness that I asked my sister to pray with me.
August 23rd - I came home from work and saw the vent pipe that connects to the water tank was detached and hanging over the tank. I called the plumbing company regarding this and about my sister's toilet.
August 24th - The plumber fixed the vent pipe, checked the toilet, and told me a new toilet was needed.
August 27th - The plumber returned and replaced the old toilet with a new one.
Overcoming Challenges with Grace and Peace
A few other things unrelated to plumbing have surfaced since then but everything that I have experienced over the past few weeks could have been worse than they were. Thank God for His grace for getting me through and for His peace that sustains me. If not for them, I would have completely unraveled mentally, which could lead to emotional and/or physical breakdowns. If I allowed myself to travel down those paths, my health would have been the result of things being worse. Holding on to the quote supplied the grace and peace that only God could provide That wisdom helped me to have a better outlook and response to these recent life circumstances.
Is there anything you are facing that you can reflect on and say ‘It’s not so bad that it couldn’t be worse’?
Comment below or email me, it would be a pleasure to hear from you!
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