52 Week Blessing Challenge – Week 12 Hot Water

How I love hot water! All I have to do is turn a handle (in one of several places in our house) and I get hot water. It comes out of the faucet, just like that! We’re so spoiled with hot water that we even have a “hot-shot” on our kitchen sink. It’s great for making hot tea, and lots of instant goodies.

So many days when I get into the shower I stand under the water and just close my eyes. I am so thankful for the hot water.

In the not-to-distant past our ancestors had to heat their water over a fire to get it warm enough to wash clothes and dishes, and occasionally dirty kids.

Back then, getting hot water meant that someone had to go outside and find the appropriate firewood. This meant either gathering wood, or chopping down a tree and then cutting it into burning-size bits of wood.

Next, a fire was started (without matches or a lighter), and then built up to burn for the duration it would take to heat some water.

And where did the wash water come from? There might have been a pump handle, but in years past the water was drawn from a lake, river, pond, spring, cistern, well, or a rain barrel. Water needed to be hauled inside the house (or where ever the fire was) and poured into a container to be put on the fire.

We all know how long it takes a watched pot to boil….. Can you imagine waiting for the water to boil so you could just wash your hands? Well, I bet they didn't wash their hands very much back in the golden days. And no wonder they spent all day on washing laundry, it really did take all day, and sometimes more. Of course, then they had to make the soap before they could wash anything…. Right, back to chopping wood and making a fire.