In honor of my newest devo, Bless Your Heart, I’ve been trying to become more aware of offbeat blessings … things we don’t ordinarily think of when asked about our favorite blessings, yet we’ve come to totally depend upon. Unheralded everyday blessings. You know, little things we’re sincerely thankful for but don’t necessarily dwell on … like slotted spoons, migraine formula Excedrin, and fingernail clippers.
Another very important offbeat blessing popped into my head this week and I can’t believe I’ve never thought to be especially thankful for this one. And I’ll bet you haven’t either. Are you ready to gush your praise to our heavenly Father for a truly marvelous everyday blessing? Here it is: Two-ply toilet paper (TP for short).
If you’ve ever had to resort to one-ply TP (that has the un-thickness and un-durability of onion skin), you’ll be especially grateful for this modern convenience. But just how modern is it, I wondered. So I did a little research on the history of TP and I think you may be surprised at what I found.
Toilet paper hasn’t always been the practical answer to toileting hygiene. In Jesus’ day, Romans used a sponge on a stick soaked in vinegar (now doesn’t that give a whole new meaning to the Roman guard’s offer to Jesus of the same to quench his thirst while hanging on the cross?). The ancient Greeks used a piece of broken pottery with sanded edges. The early Chinese used a wooden spatula wrapped in cloth. Until the 17th century, most Europeans used their sleeves. Ewww.
Then early model bidets became popular. People literally moved from the chamber pot to a wash basin and washed their worries away.
Early Americans cleverly implemented seashells, stout leaves, old rags, corncobs (Ow!) or pages torn from the Sears & Roebuck catalog until the mid 1800s when an innovative New Yorker (who’s surprised?) invented “Medicated paper for the water-closet.” The first TP was imbedded with aloe and was sold in a little wooden box, 500 separated flimsy little one-ply sheets for 50 cents. By 1900, the Germans had jumped on the bandwagon and manufactured a rough, tough version of modern TP in rolls, and by 1930, you could actually use TP without risking splinters in very delicate places.
Two-ply TP was invented in 1954 (conveniently only a few years before I was born) and immediately became all the rage. What’s not to like? You no longer had to wrap the tissue-thin one-ply around and around your hand to take care of business. I had no idea that Mr. Whipple’s popular “Please don’t squeeze the Charmin” commercials of my childhood were such trailblazers in a relatively new industry. Toilet paper gradually got softer, stronger, and more aromatic (apparently early versions had an unpleasant odor, go figure) evolving into the myriad of choices we have today, prompting Americans to use an average of 85 rolls per year (each).
So there you have it. The next time you encounter this little two-ply miracle, say a special prayer of gratitude for small everyday blessings. And then look around and add a few more to your list. It’s amazing how much thanksgiving for offbeat blessings can splash color into your world through awareness of Papa God’s vast love.
What is one offbeat blessing you’re especially cognizant of and thankful for this week?
P.S. Dearest BFF (Blessed Friend Forever), click HERE for details on entering my Mother’s Day Bless Your Heart Giveaway. The drawing is rapidly approaching so get your name in the hat today for a really good chance to win this terrific prize package I’ll be gifting to someone on Mother’s Day – can’t you picture yourself in this adorable Blessed hat? I picked it out especially for you! Hey, just comment below if you’ve fulfilled any one of the entry requirements (which you probably have and don’t know it!) and I’ll drop your name in the fedora. But you can’t win if you don’t enter, so you need to let me know.
P.S.S. Please feel free to share this post with any of your BFFs who may need a smile today.