No More "Bucket Woman"

At our house, we seldom miss the Saturday night British comedy, "Keeping Up Appearances". The main character is Hyacinth Bucket, who insists her surname is pronounced Bouquet.  Her obnoxious behavior causes people to go out of their way to avoid her, but she is oblivious to her faults. Speaking behind her back, many of them refer to her as that Bucket Woman.

I've played Bucket Woman this month, hauling water from our overflowing rain barrels to flush toilets. I was hopeful to see a noticeable difference in our water bill. It arrived yesterday. Though we had cut our usage by over 100 gallons, apparently we have only been paying the base amount all along. Our sewer bill (based on # of gallons used) WAS a little over a dollar less. Since my main goal was to reduce the bill (not so much conservation of water, I confess), I think we may go back to flushing the regular way!

I've carried OTHER kinds of buckets uselessly in the past--worries or concerns that were meant to be "taken to the Lord in prayer" and LEFT there!  I can be SO dense sometimes!

What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he'll take and shield thee;
thou wilt find a solace there.
(What a Friend we Have in Jesus, Charles C. Converse, 1832-1918)

13 comments:

  1. Well you gave it a good try Rebecca, you would think that it would have paid off a bit more. That is one thing that really irks me. I know that our water has to be cleaned and filtered and all. I know the logic behind the water and sewer bills. But I somehow have a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that we even have to pay to drink water. I somehow think that is not what God had intended but then there are many things that he had not intended to happen.
    We sang that hymn in church Saturday night!
    Love Di ♥

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  2. The "bucket brigade" was worth it to see if it would make a difference. It's probably somewhat of a relief to know you don't have to keep doing it, although a reduction in the bill would have been rewarding.

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  3. We tried doing that once. Little difference
    was made. Too much work anyway.
    I have always loved this song, so simple
    and so true.

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  4. 'What a friend we have in Jesus' was my mother's favorite hymn.

    Your post reminded me of an old 1939 R.E.Winsett Radio and Revival hymn book that once belonged to my g/mother. It's pages are brown with age. 'What a friend we have in Jesus' is no. 124 of 168 'old time hymns'.

    ♥...Wanda

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  5. Great post, your get an "A" for effort!
    Sometimes we just need to prove something to ourselves, and sometimes we are rewarded with a confirmation that our efforts were not in vain...I say your efforts were admirable!
    We have a well at our cottage, so we don't pay for the water..but we pay for the electricity to run the pump...it seems there's no free ride!

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  6. Wanda, I can visualize that songbook! It must be sitting out - or oft referred to that you could cite the page #!

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  7. You don't know till you try. But you can feel better about your effort if you count the physical benefits -- calories burned and the muscles built in the effort. Our only real water conservation benefits kick in with a good rain. Every time we don't have to let the sprinkler go off it saves $10!

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  8. that is such a great word picture for me!! no more
    buckets!!!

    thank you for the reminder.

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  9. I also tried this...and the effort was great but the difference was little ( in money that is).

    It did bring our attention to how much water we are spending and realized how blessed we are to have running water!

    This song...my favoriate :)

    Blessings,

    Maria

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  10. It is good you tried and now you know. Like Pat said..your efforts were admirable.:)

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  11. Rebecca I love Keeping Up Appearances, I laugh througout it.
    Sorry your experiment didn't work to your liking but we have all learned from it, you did all the work though.
    Have a good weekend.........:-)Hugs

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  12. I do wonder if the experiment would work for others though, who use more water than the minimum. We have a revolving door here at our house and three bathrooms. Last week one night we had 10 extra people in the house...I'm sure there was a lot of flushing going on! LOL! I also admire your effort!

    Praying for you this week and can't wait to hear all about the retreat!

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Writing a Song a Week #3

Writing a Song a Week #3
♪ I wait for the Lord; my soul waits and in his word I hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning ♪ (Psalm 130:5-6)