My Light Fixture

Ever stayed up so late, that you wondered if it was even worth going to bed?  That’s what I felt like.  I had taken a short nap after my care group men finished repairing my wall.   I had pulled it down to the studs on Thursday afternoon.  Demolition of a wall; another new first for me.   Whacking it with a hammer did have some stress benefits.

I’m going to stop here and give a little advice.  If you don’t have your house checked for termites yearly, my advice is to start.  They are nasty little critters who love to chew on your home.

With two new studs installed, new insulation, and four new pieces of sheet rock installed, the guys left.  I had enjoyed listening to their banter with one another, adding my unneeded advice every once in a while, and laughing at their antics as they worked together.

These men who make up my care group and their wives, who I call friends, support one another and know one another well after years together.  Yes, they have faults, no one is perfect, but I’ve continually seen Godly love flow between the couples and each other.

Although the care group is made up of couples and I don’t attend their church, I’m included and loved and I appreciate that.  It is a group of people that when combined make a wonderful, special group of caring friends who aren’t afraid to share their love of God and confide in one another with complete confidence that they’ll be prayed over and lifted up.  Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to be included in that type of love and friendship.

After napping, I watched a video on how to tape and bed sheet rock once again.   I started the process of taping the joints.  I had to watch it several times, even after I started on the wall.  I’m not going to win any awards for my technique, but I finished the first step of a four step process.  Tonight, I’ll go for step two.  It took much longer than I had anticipated to tape the joints and corners and fill in by the ceiling.

Ever aware that the house can be shown any day, I cleaned the room as much as possible, put up the tools, and vacuumed all the carpet.  I started a load of laundry and was just heading towards bed about 3:15 A.M. when I noticed the flicking light in the hall.

I pulled the ladder under the light, removed the globe and checked to see if the bulb was loose.  It wasn’t, so I took it out.  Just after that, the fixture dropped from the ceiling and hung by the wires.  I assumed that a screw had just fallen out.  By this point, I was so tired that I just wanted to sit and cry.  I even said aloud to God, “I just can’t do this now.”

I found a screw that I thought would work, but I couldn’t get the fixture back on the ceiling.  Giving up, now about 4:00 in the morning, I simply took off my clothes, pulled back the covers, and crawled sweaty and stinky into bed.

That annoying sound of the alarm clock and the cat licking my hair awoke me.  I procrastinated another twenty minutes and then my feet made contact with the floor.  I passed the ladder sitting under the light, sighed, and fed the cat and let out the dog.  I started thinking about the list of things that needed to be completed today; the yard mowed, power washing the rest of the house, step two of the sheet rock, fixing that light, and a baby shower to attend.  I thought about skipping church for about one minute.

I look forward to church and my time spent in worship with God.  If I don’t attend church, I feel like I’ve lost something.  I threw on some clothes (no shower).  I was tired and running late (again), and my phone was practically dead.  I tried moving the cord to different plugs, but it just wouldn’t charge.  Just add something else to my list!

Between church and the baby shower, I tried my hand at getting that light connected back to the ceiling.  Something about hanging wires shouts out that there may be a problem with the house!  I simply could not make that light attach to the ceiling.  It didn’t seem to fit.  I decided a new light must be in order.

I can’t say that I’ve been a pleasant person today.  I’ve had four hours of sleep and still haven’t showered.  After the baby shower, which was very nice, I headed to Lowe’s bound and determined to get those wires in the ceiling.

I bought a larger light.  No, I’ve never changed a light fixture, but I can read directions!  Ladder back under the light fixture, I uncoupled the wires.  (Yes, I turned off the electricity first)!  When I pulled that old fixture down, I stopped and said a word of thanks to our heavenly, Father.  One of the wires was broke.

It was like God was saying to me, “Here, let me take care of you and keep you safe.”  That light literally blinked, called to me to get my attention, and then fell off the ceiling.  How many times has God taken care of me without me even being aware of it.  I’ll say constantly.

Sometimes in retrospect, we can see God’s fingertips as He moves us in position to do something, be somewhere, or put someone in our path that we can love or edify or they us.  Thank you, Lord, for loving me more than I realize.

My new light is up, and yes, that is another first for me.  (I did have to call a friend for verbal help).  I made the baby shower, and should go put on my second coat of mud on the sheet rock.  The other things are still on my list, but there is tomorrow.  Maybe, I’ll just give myself the gift of rest.

I’ve been reminded that I am loved and He is my light.

Every generous act and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights;  with Him there is no variation or shadow cast by turning.  

James 1:17 (HSCB)

Love to you, too!