Painting Day

Mind you, we didn't know it was going to be painting day. We knew that when it happened it would be on the spur of the moment and the moment came yesterday morning when Josh called and said, "I think I'm coming with some guys today. I hope I can fit it in between the rain." (Speaking of rain, it is pouring right now. I hope the paint is still on after the earth wash is over). It is a two hour ride here from Indianapolis. They arrived around one oclock. Painting a house used to be a week long effort or more. With the right equipment it is faster than a speeding bullet. I had gone to town to the drug store for Ken and when I returned, they had arrived and the east side of our house was already chocolate. When color was discussed, I said, "Josh, this is your business. You know what's hot and what's not. You decide on the color." So, it is chocolate with sour cream trim and cherry red accent. I'll try to put a job complete picture up in a few days when he returns to finish. It is mostly finished but they could have used another couple of hours.

The activity got Ken out of the house and into something beside his aches and pains. His surgery was ten days ago and he still has a fair amount of discomfort. So the presence of a son he loves who was doing what he used to do, brought him outside and even into some work now and then. He got a lot of joy watching them work with tools he would have only dreamed of using some ten years ago when he was still painting. Ken also liked the color and said over and over that it is a good color. I'm happy when everyone else is happy.

Tools. Every job is about tools, isn't it. It struck me that with the right tools, this painting job was a cinch. I think it is probably true about other labor intensive projects as well. Have you ever tried to take a screw out with a table knife because there wasn't a phillips screw driver around? Yep, I've done that. It makes the job so much bigger and much more frustrating. By the time I give up, I've bent the lines in the screw all up and made a mess of things. But when my husband comes from the garage with the right sized phillips, he has the screw out in a flash.

Yesterday, I was at Bible study. The subject was about what God can do. The point was that God can do what He says He can do. Our job is to have the right tool in our relationship with Him. It is the tool of faith. Without faith, life is difficult and so frustrating. With the right tool of faith, it is turning the burden of it all over to the only One that has the right tools to carry it. Trying to carry it myself is like trying to get that screw out with a table knife. Next to impossible. God is who He says He is.....He can do what He says He can do.....I am who God says I am........I can do all things through Christ.......God's Word is alive and active in me. Hallelujah.