Don’t Let One Bad Experience Steal a Lifetime of Joy!

Why would our latest adventure be anything but a doozy? Tim (my hubby) didn’t want to take our mini-dachshund, Oscar, on the adventure with us. That meant I would need to pay someone to keep him. So I decided if I was paying, then we would get an Airbnb, and I would spend the extra money to take him. My kids and friends always stay at an Airbnb and have a blast! I wanted to have a blast, too. That doggone grass always looks greener on the other side! It quickly became apparent that Oscar would have been just as happy, if not happier, staying with the gorgeous young lady who sometimes keeps him for me. He would have been way more comfortable and probably a lot more spoiled! And Tim and I would have stayed at a hotel. It would have been one with heat, warm showers, a breakfast bar, and no noisy neighbors! 

I always do extra odd jobs to make more money because I want to travel and see the world. After this trip, I’m now wondering if I would really even enjoy traveling. Or do I just look at those who travel with an envious eye? That question crossed my mind the very second I stepped onto the porch of the Airbnb we had rented for the weekend. 

Unfortunately, our tiny house had no insulation! I cannot even do justice in describing the level of cold it was inside the cabin. Even though it was blowing snow and sleet outside, it felt warmer in the elements than it did inside the cabin. According to the ad, our tiny house was on the lake in a campground. Reality revealed it was near a stream of water that possibly extended from a lake, but there was definitely no lake view. The neighbors in the camper beside us parked their loud muffler truck beside our bedroom window. When they started the truck, the blinds on the windows in our bedroom would vibrate in time with the engine’s revving. I could not enjoy the trip at all because I kept wishing for it to be over and to be back home. 

Many verses in the Bible reflect that God has purposes and plans. When I find myself experiencing something not planned, I think about those verses. Throughout this trip, I randomly wondered what the purpose was for me to stay in a cabin where I could see my breath. Could it be to remind me of the noise levels often associated with staying in a campground? The hubby has been recently thinking about us taking camping back up. Well, that’s out of the picture now! Could this epic trip be to remind me of just how fabulous home really is? 

Finally, I realized I could change nothing at that moment. All I was accomplishing was panic, anxiety, and non-Christ-like thoughts for the man in the jacked-up, muffler-roaring truck. Instead, I needed to focus more on learning from the experience so I would not repeat it. Does one bad experience with Airbnb mean I won’t try it again? I have some friends who have had bad experiences with going to church. I’m praying for them to try again. God created us to be a community. We are to live life together. Not only do I need people in my life, but they also need me in their life.

I need family and friends in my life. Paul writes in Romans 1:11-12, “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong — that is that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.” This verse is in one of Paul’s letters to a group of believers in Rome. I can feel the longing Paul has to be with these believers, not just to share things he has learned and experienced but to learn and receive encouragement from them as well. 

Have you ever seen yourself as a gift to others? Do you realize you are an encouragement to other people? The talents and gifts you have are unique to you, just as mine are unique to me. Are we using those talents and gifts to serve God? Are we serving and encouraging each other with them? 

As I enter this new year, I pray that I recognize when I cannot change things and learn from the experience. I pray that God will use any gifts or talents I have. I pray for the community I live in and for each person I encounter. I pray that one bad experience with something does not ruin a lifetime of joy for my friends and myself. Who knows, maybe a bad experience happens to help us appreciate it when good ones come our way! My greatest prayer is that more people will accept God and that no one goes to Hell. 

Before I go, I want to say the trip wasn’t a complete bust. We went to see the Ark Encounter in Kentucky. I spent seven hours walking around in complete awe. Outside the ark were trees of purple, bright pink, teal, blue, and clear lights. The colors were magnificent! I highly recommend going at Christmas time and taking your kiddos, grandkids, nieces, nephews, church groups, and anyone who needs Jesus. It was undoubtedly cold outside. But slap on some gloves, grab a boggan, wear good walking shoes, and enjoy learning. I also recommend a hot cocoa or coffee when you’re walking outside. There’s no better time in the world for some good cocoa or coffee!