These past four weeks of being quarantined in our camper have been challenging at times, frustrating at times, and pure hell at other times. We are not only victims of the virus but the weather, laundry, and other essential items we take for granted when living in a home. With that said, we are still exceedingly blessed and grateful to even have a camper to hunker down inside!
I have realized that the only way to survive difficult times is to find the hidden golden nuggets buried within each day. Golden nuggets can be anything from something or someone who made you smile, relieved your stress, or opened your mind to a new possibility. And golden nuggets are hidden everywhere in our lives because as soon as we start focusing on them, we begin to unearth more and more.
A golden nugget that we unearthed while being in the camper is radio television. When the internet signal was weak, we would have to switch over to television found using our antenna. You remember those, don’t you? Radio signal tv was how we use to have to watch tv growing up, or when I was a single parent because I could not afford cable. Radio signal television soon became our golden nugget with a cooking channel, and a channel of seventy’s shows, and our favorite, Grit TV.
As a family, we have fallen in love with the channel Grit TV. The channel plays old western movies and television shows, some I have never seen. Which goes to prove I am not as old as my children think! I adore seeing John Wayne as a very young man in the old 1930 movies. They demonstrate how The Duke stayed true to himself throughout his career. And then there is Randolph Scott, Roy Rogers, and Dale Evans, along with mired other actors whose storyline was always a moral lesson. Even our dogs are loving the campfire songs, sung in them. They climb on the back bed, snuggle up, and blissfully sleep to the twang of the guitars.
During one of the old movies, I was surprised to learn a bible verse that I did not know existed. The blacksmith in the movie spouted bible verses when conversing with others. Most of them are commonly known except this one. I even had the audaciousness to emphatically state during the movie, “That is not a bible verse!” And then I reached for my bible.
Ok, it is a bible verse! I was wrong. But it is kind of an off the wall statement.
1 Timothy 5:23
“Stop drinking only water and use a little wine because of your stomach and frequent illnesses.”
The Apostle Paul is giving advice to Timothy concerning his health issues. Of course, during biblical times wine was probably safer than water to drink. And with the way we treat our environment, we might be heading back to that point again. Something to think about.
To me, it was a double golden nugget find! Finding a new bible verse and a realization that they too had water-related health problems.
I understand that this is a frightening time for everyone and their families. We need to rely on our understanding of God and His love for us. Which is more than you or I can begin to fathom. Stand firm on the fact that He will never leave you.
So, take time each day to begin finding those “golden nuggets” in your life. You can get your children to participate too. Cut nugget shapes out of yellow paper and write on each one their nugget finds. You can even turn it into a game of hide and seek. Then re-read each one to remind yourself and family how truly blessed you are during this time.
Maybe it will be a new gold rush!
God loves you!
God Bless You!
The Tent Maker Blog 