Good communication skills have not always been my strongest suit. For years, I was afraid to speak up for fear of judgement and rocking the boat. That changed with Mr. Virgo and I’ve honed the skill with Mr. FixIt. Yesterday I told you he was being a little stingy with his power tools. So, that night, instead of stewing over it, I just pointed out that I like power tools, too. He smiled and said he just wasn’t used to women who know how to do things like that. I understand that. Not all women can, or even want to, operate power tools.
Yesterday, we needed to build another brace at the other end of the bathroom floor. That is where you attach two short pieces of 2×4 to a long piece in an “H” fashion and fasten it between the floor joists to support the new floor above. This end of the floor is located directly over the washer and dryer. It’s an awkward position to stand on a ladder and it was impossible for Mr. FixIt to get up in there, so I climbed up on the washer and dryer and fastened the new boards in with three inch wood screws.
I don’t know if you have ever held a drill at an awkward angle, over your head, and tried to hold enough pressure to keep the bit from slipping in the head of the screw, but I assure you it’s not easy. The first two screws stripped immediately. So I did what I always do…I talked to Jesus. I asked him to help me get this job done and the screws went in easily as I kept saying “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” When it got really difficult, Mr. FixIt just reached up and held the end of the drill and it worked like butter.
When you face the tough things in life, you need the right tools for the job. We had the right wood screws. We had the right drill and bit and a fully charged battery. We had proper lighting and ladders. We had mutual support and trust. And we had Jesus standing in between us. We can call on Him to help us with the most mundane of tasks. My shoulders relaxed and I put all my focus and force on the task at hand and was successful. The right tools for the job…it’s what creates success. ❤️
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Hebrews 4:16 ESV
Amen!
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I know that feeling:) We built our own little house on 5 acres (never again!) Sadly hubby and I never got to the level of communication where we don’t occasionally snap at each other while building (or backing a trailer, but that’s getting better, lol…:) Doing something hard brings stress up and crankiness out all too often. You are an inspiration:)
What I find really sad is how many men don’t know how to fix things, or use tools. My own husband had to teach himself primarily as his father was too impatient to teach him (he was an electrician who knew how to fix a lot of things). My own dad insisted on the right tool for the job, taught himself to do electric work (plus the army taught him a little) wood working (he could build cabinetry of some intricacy), and he taught himself enough to be the chief engineer at three different radio stations over the years (you have to go to college now). I know people who won’t even try to do anything, which I find sad. My own skills are rudimentary but I can do a number of things.
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Makita makes a magnetic/plastic sleeve that holds screw; cool tool, might help. brand new bit perhaps too–they get dull.
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