While turning off lights for the night, my husband frowned as he stepped in the kitchen. “What’s that odd smell?”
I glanced toward the microwave and gasped. My kindle was going round and round on the turntable. With two seconds left on the timer, I had no hope of rescue.
Crazy! What was I thinking? Last winter I started a new bed-time ritual. I climbed in bed with my heating pad and kindle. The heating pad made me comfy and reading ensured I’d get drowsy. That night, however, I’d fallen asleep in the basement. Quite groggy, I’d staggered toward the kitchen and cooked the wrong item.
Using a pot holder, I lifted my sizzling kindle out of the microwave and gazed at the smoky mess. The screen was smoldering and black. The ‘on’ button didn’t respond, but then it was searing. While the leather case looked okay, the keyboard tossed a letter across the room, as if to protest.
I felt like protesting too. When Amazon first announced the kindle, I thought it was an odd idea. I loved everything about books, the cover, the pages, and the smell. Why use digital device? I wanted to hold the entire book in my hand. After my husband gave me one, however, I found lots of ways to use it. It’s much lighter than a laptop and great for taking notes. Plus, I plugged it into my car stereo and had it read to me when I drove. I downloaded a writing app and used it for a personal prayer journal too. But a cooked kindle no longer does any of that.
At this point, I was pretty disgusted with myself, but a bad mood would keep me awake. My body doesn’t function well without sleep, so I had to do something. I recalled how positive my mother was, and I chose good thoughts. In the midst of my foolish mistake, I allowed my mess up to remind me of God’s perfections. He never falls asleep and never fumbles anything. Once I started listing his goodness to me, the negative emotions lifted. Besides, a kindle won’t last forever, and he does.
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.
Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;
but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40
