Forgiveness, If you don't you'll burst!

I thought I would take some time on my monthly posts to go deeper into the fifteen Christmas Notes I have listed just about everywhere you see my book fore sale online.  To start off with I would like to lead in to each one word note by relating it to something in plumbing.  Now stay with me on this I promise it will be worth it.

I live in an area where the winters get down right cold.  For a plumber this has an up side and a down side.  The down side is....it really sucks to work with water in freezing temperatures, I have a very hard time getting motivated in the mornings to go out to work when it is below zero outside.  The up side is that business is usually pretty good during the winters.  Anyway over the years in my career I have notices a thing or two about which pipes are more forgiving when it comes to freezing.

Lets start with copper pipes. If you have copper pipes and they freeze you better call a plumber there is absolutely no forgiveness in copper pipes. They will burst almost every time.  If they don't consider, yourself lucky.  If I where you I would call a plumber before they thaw because your going to end up with a flood.

Next is Galvanized steel pipe. I can not figure this pipe out.  It will freeze solid but it will not usually burst. Still will not forgive to thawing very easily. It is one of the hardiest pipes to thaw, it can take days sometimes. Days is a long time without a shower or a toilet, but you would be surprised how many people have to do it during the winter.

And last we have Pex pipe or the red, blue, white plastic pipe you see in new homes today. This pipe withstands freezing better then metal pipes and when it does freeze it is very forgiving and will not burst. I have seen pex expand to 3 times its size and still did not burst. It thaw out easily to.  I like to call it the miracle pipe.  I probably should not praise it so much, it could put us plumbers out of a job.

Forgive!  This is one of the notes that Seanna gives in my book Christmas Notes and there is a reason I put it in there.  What is it about this word that scares us adults so bad? Why is it so hard to give it to those that have wronged us or to ask it of those we have wronged?  Why is it so easy for children to take up the task of asking for or giving to someone forgiveness?  Most the time they can do it without any hesitation what so ever when if an offense of the same magnitude to an adult would take months even years to be settled, it it even gets settled.  I know people that have delayed the forgiving proses for most of there lives. Danny and Bryan have yet to forgive each other for a bad fight they had 15 years ago in high school (about what they can not remember), neither one willing to give neither one willing to ask.  Let me tell you there never has been a day of true happiness in both lives sense that day they decided to put of forgiving the offender.  Another lady I know was offended by a comment made by a random member of her church said.  That random member to this day has no idea her comment offended someone, because it was never meant to offend. This lady refuses to go back to church and has grown so bitter towards faith and people in general its heard to even be around her.  Her copper heart has truly burst  from frosty pride and anger the two coldest emotions a person can have. These emotions will freeze a heart solid every time, to a point where no form of happiness can penetrate.    


On the other hand I heard a story of a child who had a favorite toy that he cherished very much. This was not just a phase either.  It had been his favorite for years. One day his mom(Susan) made him(Jimmy) play with a kid(Brad) that was known to break his friends toys.  Well, guess what toy Brad wanted to play with? Yup, you guessed it Tommy's prized possession his toy that practically looked brand new despite having been played with so much.  When Tommy protested his mother gave him the golden rule lesson of sharing and treating others as you would want to be treated. Basically she threatened him with his life, and forced him to give in.  Well, to no surprise Brad broke the toy. As Tommy's mother witnessed the act unfold she felt the heart that Tommy was showing on his face. What happened next should be a lesson to all of us. Tommy smiled told Brad who said he was sorry, that it was okay and that he forgave him. Tommy took the toy now missing the most important piece and set it on his bed, then asked if Brad would like to go outside to play.
Later that day when Brad had left Tommy went back into his room to asses the damage of the toy. Susan found Tommy with watering eyes sitting on his bed. Knowing the toy was a total loss she felt horrible.  Before she could ask his forgiveness for making him give in to Brads request to play with the toy, Tommy said with a tear on his cheek, "Its okay mom, at least Brad had fun."

May we not be like the Copper pipe that is unforgiving quick to burst with anger and resentment, towards those that wrong us.
May we not be like the Galvanized steel pipe that is unforgiving and stubborn to let go of the cold freezing feelings that keep there hearts iced over unwilling to let there arrogance melt and ask for forgiveness.
Let us be like the Pex plastic pipe and be more resistant to petty offending matters, and be willing to give forgiveness to those that offend us.  May we be quick to thaw our pride and seek forgiveness of all we may have damaged.