There is another story that my uncle likes to tell. The story goes, “There was once this famous organ player who traveled all around the world playing for sold out theaters and auditoriums. Every time he would get on stage he would thank all those who’ve helped him along the way. But each time he forgets the one person that is the most valuable to him but because he couldn’t see him all the time, he would occasionally forget him. This was his pumper. Now the pumper was responsible for pumping the air into the organ that made the beautiful sound the organist created when he pressed on the keys. One particular night on stage in front of a packed audience, the organist did his usual routine, but this time when he set down to press the keys, nothing came out. He pressed again and still nothing. Finally he looked up into the rafters of the theater and remembered the pumper. He stood and thanked the pumper and gave him the recognition that he deserved because without the pumper he wouldn’t be able to do the job that he was so good at. Once he acknowledged him, he was able to press on with the making of the beautiful music.”
Isn’t that something? How many of us forget to give our pumper thanks every day? Even though we all know that without the pumper pumping into us, we wouldn’t be able to make the sounds that comes out of us every time we pressed. Yes, we press every time we walk, talk, laugh, cry, chew food, curse people out, gossip and backbite, etc. Without the pumper how would we go on? However, unlike the pumper in the story above, our pumper never gives up on us. Even though we don’t thank him before every show, which is starting our day, he still shows up ready to work.
See, the pumper wakes us up and give us breathe every morning, that’s pumping life into our bodies. He gives us our right mind and activities of our limbs, that’s pumping air into our bodies. He gives us the ability to work, go to school, care for a home and our families, that’s pumping gifts into our bodies. He gives us the energy to withstand pressure, being talked about, lied on and being walked over, that’s pumping strength into our bodies. He gives us a smile when we feel like crying and heals our broken hearts when folk walk away, that’s pumping joy into our bodies. He gives us arms to hold us when mother is gone and knees to pray when the world is against us, that’s pumping comfort into our bodies. He gives us a dance and a shout on our lips when the money is gone but bills are due, that’s pumping praise into our bodies. Would you survive without your pumper? Would you be the person you are today without your pumper? Could you perform every show without the assistance of your pumper?
Some may say yes because they don’t believe in this pumper or have given up on him because he didn’t come when you needed him. Some may even say they are better off without this said pumper because they are still living. But don’t you know that the devil blesses just like God does? But in order for him to bless you he still has to get permission from God. If God created all things under the sun, don’t you think that means the devil too? Yea, he started off being an angel in God’s camp until he got the big head, like some of us do, and wanted to run the entire show. So, see the devil only does what God allows because we have been equipped to handle him. Ephesians 6:13-17 says “Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
I know you are probably wondering why God would allow babies to die, why he took your mom, sister, brother or spouse, why he allowed you to lose your job when he knew you needed the money or why he allowed you to get cancer when there are other folk who live worst lives that should have been punished. Baby, God isn’t punishing you when he allows you to go through things. He is just simply preparing you to receive what he has for you. How else will he know if you’re capable of handling a harder task if you can’t stand the small one you’re facing? It’s just like being on a job, you have to start from the bottom before you can reach the top (you have to learn and work your way up). Well, it’s the same thing in climbing God’s ladder. How will you be able to climb and endure if you can’t stand the harsh conditions you have to go through to reach the ladder? A soldier isn’t just thrown on the front line of war without first going through basic training, which is a preparing you for what you’ll face. You will not see everything that is right in front of you, that is for you, but that’s why you must have faith. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).”
God isn’t punishing you simply because you are facing a rough patch right now. In order to get to the testimony you have to first go through the test. The same way a cancer patient can’t claim to be cancer free without going through the chemo or radiation. Every time you go through a storm, it’s simply washing off the dirt that has been thrown on you from haters, it’s washing off the mud that covered you when folk was dragging your name from here to there, it’s washing off the blood from being stabbed in your back, it’s washing off all of the signs that folk have placed on you calling you this and that and it’s preparing you to enjoy the sun that’ll shine once the storm is over. Don’t you realize that just because you can’t see other folk struggles it doesn’t mean they aren’t going through? If I looked like the things I’m going through I’d be tore up, hair all over my head, shoes ragged, pants with holes in them and an overall mess. Just because your account is in the negative, your cable might be off, you got a cut-off notice for your lights and your rent is late, you don’t have to look like it. Deuteronomy 31:8 says “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
Stop taking your pumper for granted because even though he doesn’t give up like man does, he needs to be acknowledged. If every time I walked into your house and you didn’t acknowledge me, I’d begin to think that either you’re blind or you just don’t want me there. If it is the latter of the two, I will eventually stop coming to your house. God deserves our thanks and our praise. Some of us aren’t worth the mercies that he sends new every morning but we still get them. Some of us aren’t work the strength he places in our legs, arms, hands and feet; yet he does it still. Some of us aren’t worth the sight in our eyes, the taste in our mouth and the knowledge in our brains, yet he continues to give it. So, isn’t he worth a simple Thank You Lord? I surely think so and if you don’t then you may want to read your bible more. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 say “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 5:20 says “always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Just because you aren’t where you are supposed to be, don’t blame God. He has given you all the necessary requirements to be all that you can be but he won’t show up to snatch your lazy butt out the bed. James 2:17 says “So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.” You’ve got a responsibility to put your blessings into action. You wouldn’t keep putting water into a bucket with a hole, the same way God won’t keep putting gifts into a Christian with one because it eventually all seep out. Use what God has given you in order for him to enlarge your territory. Be grateful and thankful for what you have and use them. If you use all the dishwashing liquid, don’t you replace it? Well God works the same way but instead of allowing you to use it all up, he replaces it before it’s gone but the next time he adds a little more. You should be saying “Here I am Lord, use me!”
Lakisha, the Author 