BOB�S BANTER

What's in your house?

Maybe it's the December cold or because it's the end of the year; one feels a little down, at least that's how I felt this morning; depressed! I could have got out of bed in the same mood and allowed it to continue throughout the day and even let it become contagious and influence others around me, but something made me choose not to: I stretched out my hand as if there was a giant hand nearby to hold and prayed for a change in mood. "Be grateful for all you have in your house!" came a thought. "In my house?" I asked myself and looked around reluctantly. Next to me slept my wife, and I thanked God for the fact she loved me, then I thanked God also she was in good health. I walked out of the bedroom and saw a light on, "Hi!" I shouted. "Hi dad!" came bright reply and gladness filled my heart that my children and I shared a relationship many fathers would have envied! "You also guarded and guided them through this year Lord!" I said and my heart was warm with gratitude.  "What's the problem dad?" asked the elder and there was concern on her face.
"Forgetting to thank God for looking after my problems!" I laughed and she laughed with me.
My dog was snoring! It didn't even bother to look up, "You got to wake up when your master comes into the room," I told him in mock anger. He opened an eye and gave me a look which said I should go back to sleep; and my heart burst out with joy that a God above kept my house so secure a dog could sleep so well. I patted the little fellow and he looked up with a question mark look:
"You gotta be thankful you can sleep!" I told him and walked away.
My maid was up making my coffee.
Ah! The aroma of coffee on a cold morning, it drifts into your nostrils then delights whole body into a state of anticipation till first sip is taken.
"You want to thank me for the coffee Bob?"
"Oh yes, yes!" I said with tears in my eyes.
I remembered something that had happened thousands of years ago,   It concerned a widow with financial problems. This widow asks a holy man, Elisha for help to pay a debt so her sons won't be sold into slavery.    But what does the prophet ask her? He says " What have you in the house?" And she replies, "I have nothing but a pot of oil."
He then tells her to borrow as many containers as she can, and pour her supply of oil into them. However surprised she might have been by this instruction, she follows through. She fills all the borrowed containers with oil from that one pot. Elisha tells her to sell the oil and pay the debt.
And that's the lesson I've learnt today, that all sorrows, pains, hurts and disappointments, financial worries and what not can be nullified with the never emptying pot of oil that already exists in my own house.
"What's in your house?"  I grin as bad mood vanishes.

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BOB�S BANTER

Whats in your house? Maybe its the December cold or because its the end of the year; one feels a little down, at least thats how I felt this morning; depressed! I could have got out of bed in the same mood and allowed it to continue throughout the day and even let it become contagious and influence others around me, but something made me choose not to: I stretched out my hand as if there was a giant hand nearby to hold and prayed for a change in mood. Be grateful for all you have in your house! came a thought. In my house? I asked myself and looked around reluctantly. Next to me slept my wife, and I thanked God for the fact she loved me, then I thanked God also she was in good health. I walked out of the bedroom and saw a light on, Hi! I shouted. Hi dad! came bright reply and gladness filled my heart that my children and I shared a relationship many fathers would have envied! You also guarded and guided them through this year Lord! I said and my heart was warm with gratitude. Whats the problem dad? asked the elder and there was concern on her face. Forgetting to thank God for looking after my problems! I laughed and she laughed with me. My dog was snoring! It didnt even bother to look up, You got to wake up when your master comes into the room, I told him in mock anger. He opened an eye and gave me a look which said I should go back to sleep; and my heart burst out with joy that a God above kept my house so secure a dog could sleep so well. I patted the little fellow and he looked up with a question mark look: You gotta be thankful you can sleep! I told him and walked away. My maid was up making my coffee. Ah! The aroma of coffee on a cold morning, it drifts into your nostrils then delights whole body into a state of anticipation till first sip is taken. You want to thank me for the coffee Bob? Oh yes, yes! I said with tears in my eyes. I remembered something that had happened thousands of years ago, It concerned a widow with financial problems. This widow asks a holy man, Elisha for help to pay a debt so her sons wont be sold into slavery. But what does the prophet ask her? He says What have you in the house? And she replies, I have nothing but a pot of oil. He then tells her to borrow as many containers as she can, and pour her supply of oil into them. However surprised she might have been by this instruction, she follows through. She fills all the borrowed containers with oil from that one pot. Elisha tells her to sell the oil and pay the debt. And thats the lesson Ive learnt today, that all sorrows, pains, hurts and disappointments, financial worries and what not can be nullified with the never emptying pot of oil that already exists in my own house. Whats in your house? I grin as bad mood vanishes. [email protected]