Lessons from a Damaged Wall
One aspect of re-plumbing a house that may be overlooked is that other parts of the house will also be impacted. Of particular interest in this case is the damage done to sheetrock. When pipes are inside walls, like going up to a bathtub, the wall must be cut to insert the new pipes. And, unfortunately, plumbers don’t do sheetrock repair. Now, some people would just hire a handyman to come fix the sheetrock. But as you all know, I usually err on the side of most difficult, so I decided to fix it myself.
My previous success with patching a hole at the end of a hallway (2 boys = a knee through the wall), I didn’t think this would be that difficult. However, there is a kit for a roundish hole. I was on my own for straight cuts. As I said, plumbers don’t do sheetrock, so when it was put back in place it was screwed in with uneven edges. Long story short, this wasn’t as easy.
Now, as luck would have it, I was also reading a book this weekend pertaining to repairing pain in our lives through forgiveness. Here is the application: if you skip steps in sheetrock or a spiritual journey, the process will be longer and harder. Had I taken the time – or looked at some directions instead of relying on my previous experience – to align the sheetrock better before beginning to use the joint compound, it would not have taken as many coats, or as much sanding, so get a decent looking wall (just don’t look too close).
When seeking to be pleasing to God, if I jump in without taking the time to consult some “directions,” I am starting on shaky ground. I am making my journey harder than it has to be. In fact, just like with the sheetrock, there are some experts that I could turn to for help: Christian counselors, preachers, elders, loving older sisters-in-Christ. Maybe best yet, I can turn to the “owner’s manual,” my Bible, for direction from the One who made me and already knows exactly the end result of my journey, rough edges and all.
The damage in my wall will always be there just like past hurts will always impact my heart in the future. How visible that is to others and how “ugly” it makes my life depends largely on how I prepare for the job at hand, use the directions and resources available, and listen to the experts. I hope my life turns out more beautiful than my wall, and to that end, I am making sure to stay close to my Shepherd (Psalm 23), read the directions daily (Psalm 119), and share with trusted Christian friends (Gal. 6:2).
Receive all our articles for free:
AUTHOR: Amber Tatum
