We have a small house. Not complaining… but it is small. We have five people, two dogs and much toys and company in our home, and well, it can get crowded and messy. For the past two years, Jon has had his office in our second room. It has been such a HUGE blessing having his office here! (although I am not sure that he appreciated all the noise during study time) He was very generous about three months ago, and let me move Jimmy’s crib from our room in the basement to his office. (because no one was sleeping…this child still struggles with sleep!) His office went from small to extremely crowded! (poor guy)
This past week, Jon was able to move his office to our new church building and I know how happy he is to have some quiet time back! (not to mention, not having to work around nap schedule!) I am also excited to give Jimmy a little of his own space and have another room to keep the boys toys and craziness! But…. It was a MESS! And I have a lot of other things I need to do, get done, accomplish, not procrastinate, check off the proverbial “to Do list”! So, I slowly began to clean up the mess.
As you can see… Quite a Mess. I needed to find somewhere else for all this junk! And so, I do what most of us do. And I made a mess somewhere else…
I cleaned up the mess in his room! That counts right?! Ya, No. As I looked at the mess on the table and considered where to move it next… I thought of how often I do that in my spiritual life. God will show me a mess in my heart that needs to be cleaned up. And instead of eliminating a mess, I move it somewhere else to deal with another day. It’s a vicious cycle…
But do not fret friends!!!! I saw the error of my ways! I recruited my husband to lock the boys into the living room with him for an hour and a half. And I ELIMINATED that mess! (And no, I didn’t just put it in the basement or another closet)
I also, organized Jimmy’s room and set it up for him to have room to play! He and Jayden LOVE that they both have more space!
I know that I will be cleaning this room often and putting away toys, and blankets, and clothes, and random things that my sons find and think are cool to play with, but they are NOT toys! But I am not complaining… No, I am remembering… Remembering, that I eliminated a mess! It’s not waiting for me in a dark closet or in another room.
Let me encourage you, to eliminate messes! Not just in your home, but in your life. When God shows you an area you need to clean up. Don’t shove it under the rug or in an obscure closet in your heart. DEAL with it! Clean it! Get rid of it! Eliminate it! (really, it’s so refreshing and satisfying!)
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