Pet Peeves and Blessings

My daughter points out the electrical wiring hanging off our
living room wall. Should I  hang flowers on it?

Recently my car broke down on a busy street while I was driving. The transmission suddenly stopped working, and the car wouldn’t move, no matter how much gas I gave it. A kind Turkish amca (uncle) offered to push it, but I was scared to death he’d get hit by another car. Two weeks and $350 later, the very same thing happened again to my husband.  Only I was away at a five day retreat, and it was the first day of the Sacrifice Festival, which meant all repair shops would be closed for four days.  I couldn’t believe it when he called me.  All these years I’ve been the one at home alone with the kids and things breaking down while HE travels...

Yesterday was my first day back home after an amazing retreat time and the first business day after the holiday. A tow truck finally came to transport our car to the shop, but it broke down, so my husband had to wait for a second truck. Then our hot water heater broke, so repairmen hauled it away to fix it. The whisk I used while cooking dinner broke in my hand, and when I laid down next to my daughter to kiss her goodnight, her bed partially collapsed.  (I’m really not THAT overweight!)

On most days I really do adore living in Turkey.

I enjoy the people, food, culture, chaos, and a different way of thinking, but today I’m staring in the face of my pet peeve: a lack of quality control. Sometimes it seems like everything breaks.

Here are some examples of things that just don’t work like I expect:

• Three different repairs in 6 months related to electrical circuit breaker switches that always flip off in my house.

• A leg that falls off your dining room table while you are having dinner with guests.

• A drawer handle that comes off in your hand.

• Cabinet doors that fall off the hinges.

• Socks that shrink.

• Pens that don’t write.

I could go on, but I really should stop this complaining because another of my pet peeves is foreigners who complain about the culture and how things are done here, so I’m stepping on my own toes…

Yesterday I had the choice to either focus on the negative or just laugh things off and stay positive. After all, a tow truck breaking down when it comes to get your car is worth laughing about, don't you think?  Yesterday I wavered back and forth, sometimes complaining, sometimes smiling at the bright side. For the record, I want to keep my spirit of adventure the next time the electricity goes off one more time.  


I hope to keep my eyes open to the marvelous blessings God gives me here in my corner of the Aegean, such as:

• A wonderful produce market on Wednesdays and Sundays

• Incredible flaxseed bread from our bakery

• Waiters at our favorite Turkish restaurant who have known us for years.

• Cool and sunny autumn days

• Kind amcas who will push your car off the road for you

• Dear friends

• Answered prayers

• The Kingdom of God advancing

Remembering these gives me the perspective I need when I pick up yet another pen that doesn’t write! What about you?  In your corner of the world, what is your pet peeve, and what are you grateful for?