J U L Y 4
I never ever thought that a clogged toilet would be God's way of speaking to me. When I heard the all-too-familiar glug glug sound of the clogged toilet, my heart sank. Especially cuz this was a dorm and that meant I'd have to talk to the mean lady downstairs to get a plunger. This was the same lady that told my friend she was annoying for leaving her room key in her room. I sat on the toilet for 15 more minutes, contemplating if I should just wait until tomorrow to deal with this poopy situation. But I really wanted my toilet back, so I mustered up the courage and prayed to God for strength to love this lady regardless.
So I went down and told her my situation and at the same time, another resident was trying to pick up the water he ordered. But for some reason, after he left the office, she realized his transaction didn't go through. And she wanted to solve that first. So she told me to wait outside the office (in a very frustrated tone). So I waited for about 10 minutes and during those 10 minutes, I just kept praying that God would grant me the strength to love this woman despite her very rough demeanor.
When she came back after solving the water situation, she gave me a plunger while reprimanding me for putting toilet paper in the toilet (even though it wasn't the TP that clogged the toilet if ya know what I mean). She then asked me for my phone to ensure I returned the plunger, and as I left, I heard her chuck my phone rather roughly into a bin.
I really wanted to be angry at this lady, but I felt God just telling me over and over again: love, love, love. So somehow, by His grace, I was able to keep my cool.
Unfortunately, I was unsuccessful at unclogging the toilet (but that's another story for another time). So I mustered up my courage again and went back downstairs to return the plunger. This time, things were different. She was... gentle?? Her eyes looked like they had softened and I felt it was much easier to look into her eyes as I talked to her. This time, she told me in a more gentle tone, as if she was giving me advice, to not put TP into the toilet because the toilets there were weaker than American ones. She also told me she would tell the maintenance man tomorrow.
In just 25 minutes, I learned such a huge lesson. I learned that love is truly SO powerful. It had the ability to soften this lady's heart. And that's really only something our God can do. There's no way I could've showed love to this lady if it weren't for the patient love I experienced from God.
I also learned the importance of relying on God to be my source of strength. In those 10 minutes I spent talking to God, He heard my plea for help and He came through. Even now, when I'm sitting just feet away from my still-clogged toilet, I can rejoice in His faithfulness. And even though I really want my toilet back (plz and thx in advance to all the friends whom I will borrow restrooms from in the next few days), I am so grateful for this chance He gave me to encounter His love and fall deeper in love with Him.
~jo