By Ashlie Miller

“I’m very thankful for the wasp nests that were on our dryer vent,” my husband said at the dinner table this week as we all thought back on the busy week (and it was only Wednesday). We all nodded in agreement. We have something called a “graticube,” a wooden hexagonal cube with gratitude prompts to encourage positive family discussions gathered around the table. 

Earlier in the day, a dryer vent cleaner company inspected our vent system. Our biggest concern was the wasp nest we could see building just outside the attic. We noticed it at the end of last winter but were assured by others that the wasps likely died out and would not come back to this nest. However, we began noticing wasps again recently. 

After attempting to remedy this ourselves (thanks to Google and YouTube), we finally called in the professionals. We learned that our issue was bigger than wasp nests (yes, plural, they discovered). The central hose leading out evidently had not adequately been installed, then disconnected sometime since we moved in, resulting in a heavy dusting of – you guessed it – lint dust!

While we certainly were not delighted with the estimate for repair and cleanup, we understood why my husband was thankful for the wasp nests. They could have chosen any spot around our home and wooded back yard, but chose the one place that had a bigger issue that needed our attention.

It reminded me of Corrie ten Boom’s story about fleas. For those unfamiliar, her family, who were watchmakers, famously hid Jews in their home during the German occupation in the Netherlands to protect them from arrest and being sent to prison and concentration camps. Eventually, Corrie’s family, including her sister Betsie, was sent to Ravensbrücke – a concentration camp with filthy, overcrowded barracks. Things were very bleak, but the sisters secretly shared portions of the Bible with their many bunkmates, an act and book completely forbidden. Still, finding things to offer praise and gratitude for was minimal.

In the midst of their intense suffering, Betsie reminded her sister that they should be grateful in all circumstances, a challenge Corrie found impossible with the brutality of the soldiers, worse than poor living conditions, and the bleakness of the situation that offered no hope. Corrie reminded her sister that even their mattresses were full of fleas and lice. “I simply cannot be grateful for fleas and lice,” she said. Betsie responded, “But you must.” A short time later, they learned that the reason the guards never visited their overcrowded room was that they were disgusted by the prospect of catching lice or fleas. Who knows how many women received hope and encouragement through the gospel because of this blessed misfortune? 

So, there’s a challenge for the coming week – what minor annoyance (in the grand scheme of things) actually was for your good or a blessing to others? Can you see where God permitted things that are ultimately results of our broken and fallen world to draw your attention to bigger issues or a greater blessing? 

Ashlie Miller counts her wasps, er, blessings with her family in Concord, NC. You may email her at mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com.