We were just getting home from a family Christmas party, tired, ready for bed. But when we opened the door of the house we were hit by a smell. You know me, I smell everything, but everyone smelled it this time. An obviously toxic smell, like that purple primer you use for PVC pipe. We started searching around, “what could it possibly be?”, we had no idea; we don’t even keep stuff in our house that could smell like that- no spray paint or harsh glues or anything. Maybe it wasn’t actually something toxic? Maybe it was a super fragrant ripe banana? Or something the cats brought in?
Though a seemingly piddly request, I prayed, “God, please show us what it is…”
Maybe something about the air conditioner, let’s smell the vents.
Whew. There it was.
We found a can of some primer-something that had been used and forgotten in the swamp cooler long ago that had burst and was spilling its toxic fumes into our air ducts.
If only it had been a banana.
While the babies sat outside with blankets, we duct taped the vents shut, turned all the fans and air purifiers on high, and opened all the windows to the chilly December night.
“What are we gonna dooooo?” Perry, my four-year-old started to worry.
Somehow God helped me to be joyful and self-controlled when my flesh would be most likely to be stressed, frantic, and grumpy (exhaustion, unexpected stress, and toxic fumes?! Those are like, my three greatest weaknesses).
“Here’s what we’re gonna do: we’re going to brush our teeth outside, like camping, then we’re going take our blankies in the car and go on a nice, long Christmas-light-drive!”
So we did. We found all the best light displays in town, sipped herbal tea, made up our own little scavenger hunt list of things to find in the displays (star, grinch, snowman, reindeer, etc.) and had a fun time while we let our house air out.
The kids all eventually fell asleep, heads resting on car seats or windows. Justin and I chatted and drove until we thought it had probably been long enough (and we could barely keep our eyes open) then went home.
The house was fresh and odorless (and freezing) when we got back. The kids climbed into bed, Justin built a fire and shut the windows, I nursed Willa.
While we were on our drive, I asked what we could be thankful for about the situation (because God had put it on my own heart when my reactive emotion earlier had started to be blame and anger). Here are some things we came up with:
Looking at beautiful lights.
The work that was done on the AC whenever the can was left.
That this whole thing had happened in the evening, not the middle of the night.
That we had duct tape ready and available to cover the vents.
Having found the source of the smell.
Definitely a lemonade-out-of-lemons type situation, it ended up being a really sweet night.
Praying made all the difference. Not letting anger, blame, or stress take over, but instead choosing to obey some of those little commands in the Bible- being thankful and joyful always, not sinning in anger- that made the difference between a horrible time and a beautiful, memorable night.
Jennifer Blacklock 
Leave a comment