When Bad Days Happen...

Today was a day that will live in infamy in our home.  The day the cow escaped and we spent hours and miles looking and chasing and worrying.  The day we fell a tree into the goat fence.  The day nothing went the way we planned.  The day we wanted to throw our hands up and cuss and yell and stomp in the mud and throw tree branches and pout.

Instead we were humbled and reminded of God, who works all things together for the good of those who love Him.  We still don't know when those things will start working together for good, but I guess that isn't the point.

The cow is still out.  First day in the barn, and he didn't like it, so he leapt over the fence and took off.  We saw him twice and couldn't get him to go the way we wanted.  Three hours later, we tucked our tails, set out hay and drove away.

Those three hours were supposed to have been spent building a second place for our two smallest pigs, moving Connor's chickens to a better spot, cleaning the house, making granola bars, and meal planning for the week.

Jason barely had time to fall the handful of trees he's been needing to get down.  I interrupted him to see about an impromptu evening family run.  He literally roped me into helping with one of the trees really quick...

The tree is still on the fence.  That wonky alder that has been blocking the sunlight to our garden and leaning a little too close to the chicken coop for far too long gave us a big "I'll show you" on the way down.  I didn't want to help, and I hate when we fall trees.  Because I was imaging all sorts of improbable and likely completely impossible tragic endings to a simple tree falling, I didn't keep reeling in the cable when I was supposed to, and the tree fell a little too far to the right... right onto the goat fence. Then the chain snapped off Jason's saw.

I'm pretty sure the goats will be out tomorrow too.

Needless to say, our family run was necessary for burning off some steam.  We ended with some apologies and breakfast for dinner and family devotions.

If you've ever been through the Jesus Calling devotions, you'll love this next part.  February 7 was meant for us.

Why am I so sad?  Why am I so upset?
I should put my hope in God.
I should keep praising Him, my Savior and my God.
Psalm 42:11

"Sometimes things just don't go the way you expect them to, or even the way you think they should.  Bu I have a plan.  I also have the Power to take all those unexpected things- even the not-so-good ones- and use them for good in your life."

We laughed until we had tears rolling down our cheeks.  What else could we do?  We double checked the date, and sure enough... February 7th was today.  

Today was a BAD day.  It wasn't the worst.  But it was pretty suck-tastic.  And God knew it would be all along.  He also knew today's crappy circumstances weren't going to get better for us by the time we read our devotion.  And He knew what we needed to hear.

When BAD days happen, read Psalm 42:11 or Romans 8:28.

And we know that in all things 
God works for the good of those who love Him, 
who have been called according to His purpose.

I'm staying up tonight to get this all down, knowing full well that tomorrow might not be any better...or even worse.  I've already cheated and read February 8th in the devotional.  Hopefully, it's not a sign.

So.  When your cows get out, or you fall a tree on your goat fence, or something more mundane, but equally crappy, happens... remember, there is a reason.  God is working it for good.  

And it might be a few days... or longer, before you see the good.



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