The problem..

Is ear wax....

This may be a strange post but I have to share with you my story about ear wax.

I have really small ears and very tiny ear canals. Every nurse who has ever looked into my ears has told me that. Anyway I have been having troubles lately with my ears getting plugged frequently. I hate it when my ears are plugged. I don't think anyone likes it but I seriously cannot stand it when they get filled with that icky brown colored wax. So I had my ears cleaned out this weekend because they were pretty plugged. The right ear was bothering me the most. I tried murine ear wax removal and a ear wax candle but to no avail the ear wax refused to come out (of which it usually never does unless it is irrigated). So the nurse at the express clinic--of which I highly recommend for those who are married and poor, like us--cleaned my ears out. The right ear felt amazing and I thought that the left ear was just fine. Well it turned out that the left ear had more wax then the right and she got it all out (at least that was what she said). Well I get into the car and my left ear didn't feel right. I kept telling Matt that it just didn't feel normal and felt a little plugged. He told me it was fine. It could be water. Well here I am a day later and my left ear is still acting up. I don't know what it is. Well I tried the ear wax candle again and it helped maybe a little and it looked like a whole bunch of wax came out. BUT it still doesn't feel normal. I hate ears. I just might have to go back again this week.

Why did I share this story with you? Well I felt inclined to share it with you because God can use even the silliest things like ear wax to teach lessons to His children. I am still in a predicament. I hate feeling out of control and I hate it when I cannot resolve problems, especially with my ears (I know a weird hang up I have). Well perhaps God is using this situation (as much as I hate it) to show me something and I don't even want to admit that perhaps God is using this situation because I feel uncomfortable and am NOT ok with that. I hate feeling uncomfortable and folks I am being blunt. I really, especially hate it when I have EAR WAX that refuses to come out of my teeny tiny ear canals. I need to work on this. As much as I hate admitting that I need to trust God with my ear wax, I do. I am weak in this area and satan knows it. Satan will use any small thing like this to turn my heart from Christ. I know this may sound so silly because.....

"It's just EAR WAX."

BUT God can use many things to bring us closer to Him. How I long to be a sweet fragrance even when I am uncomfortable. I want to be kind to others, even when I am in pain. This stupid ear wax has been a challenge for me. Yet in reality it has also shown me areas of change. I hate change too. Believe me....."When my comforts are in jeopardy I want things to be for the benefit of me" BUT I need to ask Christ to help me change this attitude. I need to be a witness when things are hard, I need to be loving towards my husband and family even when I don't FEEL like it. YES even when I have ear wax that cloggs my ear canals. Here is a good verse to remember

"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things." Philippans 4:8

I need to refocus and think about these things when I am crabby and cranky about my stupid ears. Please Lord help me. Here is a good saying that we should all think about:

Dear God,

Give me strength to bear the crosses that are large enough for all to see... But also give me strength to bear the crosses that are known only to thee and me.
--Patricia Nieland Collins

How true. We need God's grace more each day. I am seeing this more and more as I live life with all the struggles and trials that come my way. We need God's grace to get through today so that we can be enabled to bring CHRIST all the glory.

It's you and me Lord. Help me to refocus on the positive and your grace.