Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Have you ever felt embarrassed to return to something after being gone for a long time? Like calling a friend after missing her birthday or going back to a weekly Bible Study after months of neglect? Well, if you have, you can relate to how I feel about coming back here after being away for such a long time. But, it is still my little corner after all, and even if the cobwebs need to be swept and the dust blown away, I am returning to this safe place.
Robert, Aimee and the three little ones moved back in with us a few weeks before Christmas. Each day I observe or experience situations that teach me something about our Heavenly Father.
Yesterday, Ethne said, “I can’t find any Washable Markers anywhere.”
“Did you look in the place where we keep them? In the laundry room, under the sink, in that box?”
“No.”
“Go see.” I followed her as she opened the box to retrieve a marker.
I felt pretty proud of myself for knowing where those markers were because I have been spending a large chunk of my life finding places for all the extra stuff five additional people (and Christmas) bring into a house. And while organizing isn’t intuitive for me I’ve been intent on arranging it all into manageable sizes and determined to remember where I put everything.
So, Ethne went off with the marker and I squatted down to replace the box when I noticed that every single marker one was topless. It’s certainly was not as obscene as it sounds but for me it was pretty shocking. All the pens I’d carefully capped, sorted and arranged where left to dry out. I dumped the box and muttered silently. Why don’t they keep things in order after I’ve gone to all the trouble to sort it all out? All I do is pick up. I’m getting tired of always cleaning up their messes.
That’s when I knew the truth. For fifty-three years, God has been cleaning up my messes. Maybe I’ve improved in some small ways, but over all, it’s the same attitudes, choices, and struggles, over and over and over again. It’s easy for me to make messes and most the time it’s not on purpose and I’m unaware of what I’m doing. And He—He deals with it, because it’s my mess and I’m His. He’s my Father and what involves me concerns Him. He doesn’t ever get tired of having to take care of me and my stuff. I’m very thankful for this and will try to serve my loved ones the way He serves me.

6 comments:

Leann said...

Sue, you spoke to me right where I live with this... I am purging and cleaning my home this year because God has convicted me of the mess and the need for a clean, organized, safe place for my family to fall into every day. It is so hard to work and then have little ones just come right behind and undo all that work and yet, I do the same thing to God. What a beautiful analogy!!! I love you my friend. Hope to see you Tuesday, but if not... know there are prayers being said for you and your precious family.

Julia Kelly said...

Glad to see you again- no apologies!!
Why is this so hard for us to understand- when we would "walk through lava" for our own kids- that he would and did die for us and there is nothing he would not do for his children! Thanks for the reminder!

kelly said...

I was so glad to see you write again. Like I have said before... I think you are amazing. I know how hard you have worked over the years to be such an organized person and I am proud of your attitude in all these changes. You are my hero. Peace. Kelly

Kellie said...

Thank you for your wisdom, I too needed to hear that right now. So glad you are back to writing...the world needs your words.

Nancy said...

Such wisdom!!
A friend of ours who grew up in Communism with my husband shard a little secret with me. With the markers, you can remove the cap on the distant end of the marker and apply a few drops of rubbing alcohol. It returns the marker to the condition it was in when you purchased it.

Connie said...

Sue--I've been praying for you and your kids. I'm so glad you wrote--I check in now and then. Thanks for always pointing me to Jesus. :)

By the way, William and Kerri are so happy to be enjoying a visit from Eric and Amy. Nothing like old friends!