Dark Corners or Soul Sculpting?

Under Fridge

One day I was on my knees in the kitchen wiping up a spill.  I began to see all the places that are so dirty that we never seem to get to.  The dust bunnies and food under the stove and refrigerator.  The sticky goo running down the cabinet by the garbage can.  The grime on the floor up against the baseboards.  I just sat there on my elbows and knees looking at the filth!

I began to lament, “if I just had the time to do this instead of entrusting it to these children who obviously don’t care like I do.”  Immediately I felt the conviction of the Holy Spirit and I knew I was in for a little lesson.  There I remained on the floor just looking, praying, thinking, and listening.

What I heard was, “Would you like more time to take care of these things?”  “What would you like to give up instead?”  “Maybe you could give up home schooling, that would give you more time to do this.”  “Maybe if you spent less time being a mama and more time cleaning.”  “Maybe if you didn’t minister to women on your blog.”   “Maybe if you spent less time encouraging your husband and looking for ways to bless him.”

Which of these things, these eternal things, would I give up so the underneath of my stove would be spotless?  Would I trade home schooling for, say, shiny sinks?  How about grimeless floors and bathtubs?  What would I trade for that?

Fridge Corner

A swipe of the Sink

You get the point ladies.  We all know this.  We just need to be reminded every now and again to keep our eternal perspective!  Dirty floors cannot compare in importance to dirty hearts in our children that need the washing of the Word.  Nor is sticky goo on the floor more important than playing goo-goo with a tiny, precious baby, right?

A friend told me a story about a family that lived in another country where many Hindu people lived and they commented on how unbelievably happy these people were.  When questioned as to the source of their happiness this person said it was because they knew it was the “after this life” that was important.  My friend responded that Christians think that too, why aren’t they the happiest people on earth?  The answer was humbling and convicting.  Because the Hindus actually believe it and live like they do.  Ouch!

What is your perspective today?  Is it eternal or temporal?  What is really more important, your sink or your children?

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.  For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:24-26)

What will you give in exchange for your soul, or that of your children’s soul, or your husbands’?