Lessons in Construction Part 3

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christian walk, construction, empty nester, encouragement, expectations, managing expectations, measuring, working with your husband

The last few weeks I’ve been talking about lessons I’m learning while working with my husband. In my last post, I referenced measuring https://tinyurl.com/2tpfmru2 which led me to this week’s contemplation.

When Mark and I were checking and re-checking all of the posts on our first official job together (and many others since then), I discovered that we have to trust the other person’s reading of the tool. Whether it’s a basic level, a measuring tape, or a laser level the person holding the object in place has to trust the other to read the instrument correctly.

That thought led to the understanding that if the person with the knowledge has never shared how to read said instrument, the expectation that the inexperienced person should “just know” how to see things clearly and correctly should not be placed upon them. Can I get a witness?!

Now, just to be clear, Mark and I have not run into this issue with measuring, but we have with other tasks… thoughts for another day…but, while we were setting those posts so many weeks ago I couldn’t help but think along these lines. It led me to ask the question, “Have I taught those coming after me how to read the measuring tape?”

Have I encouraged those around me to read the “level” of God’s Word?

Have I reminded those around me to check and re-check their life with Scripture? Or, have I just expected them to figure it out on their own?

Have I sat back in judgment of someone else’s crooked post, if you will, when I haven’t even given them a measuring tape?

In the past, I have become so angry at adults around me who expected me to “just know” how things were supposed to be done instead of verbally (and by example) showing me the way. I have to ask myself if I have become that same kind of adult.

Titus 2:1-8 says, “But you must say the things that are consistent with sound teaching. Older men are to be level headed, worthy of respect, sensible, and sound in faith, love, and endurance. In the same way, older women are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not addicted to much wine. They are to teach what is good, so they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and to love their children, to be self-controlled, pure, homemakers, kind, and submissive to their husbands, so that God’s message will not be slandered. In the same way, encourage the young men to be self-controlled  in everything. Make yourself an example of good works with integrity and dignity in your teaching. Your message is to be sound beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be ashamed, having nothing bad to say about us.”

Does this verse sound like you? Have you been faithful to lead and encourage? Or, do you expect those around you to “just know”?

Lesson Three on the construction site … don’t just expect, teach.

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Lessons in Construction

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Christian encouragement, christian journey, construction, encouragement, encouragement for the weary, lessons on the job, life lessons, short word of encouragment

Yes, you read the title correctly. I am currently learning lessons in a construction zone. It is not a play on words. It is the literal truth. My husband has recently become a small business owner in the building industry, so team player that I am, I am also now in the same business. Many people have asked us how it’s working out. It’s going great overall, but that’s a discussion for another day. 🙂 Today’s blog is about a lesson that surprised me early on.

All of my life I have been told, “Shoulders back. Head up. Walk with confidence.” I had a tendency to slouch, so I was told that often. Actually, what my mom really said was more like, “Missy Dawn! Quit slouchin’!”

I am definitely not in a state of perfect posture all of the time, but I am better than I used to be. Head up! Shoulders back! But… that does not go well on a construction site. On a construction site, you MUST look down. You MUST be attentive to your surroundings. In order to be safe, you need to know where you are going and make sure the next step you take is not in a hole.

Psalm 116:8 says, “For You, LORD, rescued me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.”

On a construction site, holes are obvious… if you are watching out for them. On my first official day as my husband’s employee, we set over twenty posts for a deck. I didn’t fall into a hole that week, but it was only by the grace of God… believe me. I learned quickly to put all of my ladylike upbringing on hold to get the job done in a safe manner.

In life though, holes aren’t that obvious. A hole of depression can be easily fallen into by watching the latest news. A hole of discontentment can be fallen into by scrolling Instagram a little too long. A hole of gossip can be fallen into by going to a friend instead of God first. The list can go on and on, but Psalm 116:8, assures us the Lord can keep our feet from stumbling. I love that about Him. I love that in the middle of the day with dirt all around me, dotted with holes freshly dug, God can remind me that He continually rescues me, dries my tears and keeps my feet where they need to be.

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