The Wise Plumber

Things happen for a reason. And God uses all kinds of people and situations to speak truth into our lives.

One Saturday morning, a few months into our marriage, my husband walked into the utility room and discovered that there was a pool of water on the floor. Turns out our hot water heater was leaking. My husband called the landlord who called the plumber and eventually we knew that we would be without hot water for the weekend. Trying to be the cheerful one, I suggested that there must be a purpose for this little trial. Deep down, I had no idea if that was for real. Did God really care that a newly married couple would have to rough it without showers for a couple days? What was the point?

The weekend came and went. We survived and even were able to get cleaned up at my parent’s house on Sunday.

Monday evening, I arrived home from work. The plumber’s pickup truck was in the driveway. I walked inside the house about the same time as he was leaving to go to the hardware store.

Within a few short minutes, I became upset with my husband about something. I went in the bedroom and sulked. The more I thought about my husband’s thoughtless actions, the madder I got. Eventually, the plumber returned and began installing the new hot water heater. After a few minutes, I grudgingly came back into the living room.

The plumber was talkative and friendly and began telling us about experiences from all the years he had worked. At some point, he learned we were newlyweds. He said he had been married for over 40 years. But then he paused. The next sentence he said fell like a sharp blow on my heart. He said, “I lost my wife a few years ago.”  

The plumber gathered his tools and stepped toward the door, but seemed reluctant to leave. He looked at us, and there was sadness blended with wisdom in his lined face.

He said, “Don’t take each other for granted. Enjoy the years that you get together. I sure do miss my wife.” Then, he said goodbye, opened the door, and left.

The house was silent. Then, my husband came to me. He wrapped me in his arms and I wept: Tears of sadness for the lonely widower and tears of remorse for how unforgiving I had been to my husband.

I hope I never forget the wise words of the plumber. I hope I never take my husband for granted or waste time on petty arguments that don’t matter.  But I know I will. I already have. Yet, somehow, the truth of the plumber’s words continues to echo in my mind, soaking down into my soul: “Don’t take each other for granted. Enjoy the years you have together”.

We are not promised tomorrow. But for all the tomorrows that may come- for better or for worse, in hot water or no hot water, we are promised to each other till the end of our years together.

Things happen for a reason. And God uses all kinds of people and situations to speak truth into our lives.