For months now I have been going through my possessions and making decisions on what I need and what must go. It is not an easy task, especially for someone like me who keeps things for memories' sake. I have a lot of memories. Little trinkets that I have stashed away into little boxes take me back in time when I find them during my clean up times. The question I must ask myself is it necessary to keep the mementos in order to remember?
The past has given me many gifts. My life is a culmination of all those events that are remembered and even those that have been long forgotten. I am not convinced though, that I need all my stuff to make the memories live again. It seems to me that all of those memories do live in me here in the present. Each memory has made its mark on my life and that impression has molded me in some way. Even more important are the choices I made and continue to make because of what has happened to me.
Cleaning out all the stuff is a good thing. I'm not ready to get rid of it all but I am simplifying my life and my living space. I am making big changes and I am making a memory of my choice to live free from the things that hold me down and clutter my life. I think Jesus would like that. It is time to be the me I am today, not the me I was yesterday!
Lord of my every day, You are Eternal. You are present in my yesterdays, today, and tomorrows. It is You that must be remembered. I need to look for You in every day, but I so often look more at myself. Help me to turn my eyes to You and let You fill up all the places of my mind and heart. Thank you for the promise of Your presence. I need you!
Showing posts with label cleaning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cleaning. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Cleaning House
Preparing for Christ to come makes me want my house in order. Not just my physical home but my soul home.
Today is house cleaning day for me. In my youth, Mom insisted that we clean the house every Saturday in preparation for Sunday, our day of rest. We also would go to confession on Saturday. You can see the connection, I am sure. I helped mom clean up the house, and then I took time to clean my soul from my sins at the confessional. The ritual has stayed with me.
Saturday is my day to prepare my house so that I can rest on Sunday. I have changed my Saturday confession time to a daily and sometimes hourly ritual of asking forgiveness for my sins. I do not need a priest to confess my failures because Jesus is my priest. He washes my sin stains away.
In these days preparing for Christmas I dig a little deeper into my cleansing routine. As Christmas decorations go up, the hidden corners reveal their dust and dirt. I believe it is Gods' way, that as I seek to put on the Spirit of Christmas, He reveals the dust and dirt on my soul. Both clean up jobs need to be attended to so that I can enjoy my celebration.
"Prepare ye the way of the Lord" was the cry of the prophet. How do we prepare for Jesus Christs' coming this Christmas or when He comes again in glory? We must prepare our hearts with His forgiveness, and maybe even make sure our house is clean in case He sends angels ahead of His coming and we are to entertain them.
Glorious Lord, You wash us white as snow! We cannot prepare our lives for Your coming without You! I have many places that need to be cleaned up in my life. Thanks for forgiving me and washing them clean. If You send an angel to visit my home tonight, it will be clean and I will be ready. Tomorrow I will worship You with a clean heart and a mind seeking after You. I expect our time together will be sweet!
Today is house cleaning day for me. In my youth, Mom insisted that we clean the house every Saturday in preparation for Sunday, our day of rest. We also would go to confession on Saturday. You can see the connection, I am sure. I helped mom clean up the house, and then I took time to clean my soul from my sins at the confessional. The ritual has stayed with me.
Saturday is my day to prepare my house so that I can rest on Sunday. I have changed my Saturday confession time to a daily and sometimes hourly ritual of asking forgiveness for my sins. I do not need a priest to confess my failures because Jesus is my priest. He washes my sin stains away.
In these days preparing for Christmas I dig a little deeper into my cleansing routine. As Christmas decorations go up, the hidden corners reveal their dust and dirt. I believe it is Gods' way, that as I seek to put on the Spirit of Christmas, He reveals the dust and dirt on my soul. Both clean up jobs need to be attended to so that I can enjoy my celebration.
"Prepare ye the way of the Lord" was the cry of the prophet. How do we prepare for Jesus Christs' coming this Christmas or when He comes again in glory? We must prepare our hearts with His forgiveness, and maybe even make sure our house is clean in case He sends angels ahead of His coming and we are to entertain them.
Glorious Lord, You wash us white as snow! We cannot prepare our lives for Your coming without You! I have many places that need to be cleaned up in my life. Thanks for forgiving me and washing them clean. If You send an angel to visit my home tonight, it will be clean and I will be ready. Tomorrow I will worship You with a clean heart and a mind seeking after You. I expect our time together will be sweet!
Friday, October 15, 2010
Crowded
My life feels crowded right now. My mind is crowded with learning new things, my time is crowded with not only the regular things to do, but the extras that have blossomed with family emergencies and the start of a busy season. My house is crowded too.
I've been trying to simplify my life, but it seems I clear out one thing and three more run to take its place! My house cleaning/simplifying job is the worst. There is no room in a house filled with two families to make everything fit. I'm getting rid of a bunch, but could give away more. My only thought is that when I move and finally open my packed boxes I might find I gave away not the "Extra," but the only one of a certain item! So to be safe, I keep some things I am not sure about.
I'd really love to do as the shows on tv where they empty the room, clean it out completely, paint and repair. The next step is to sort and throw out before placing the room back without all the clutter. To do that I need extra hands. None seem willing or available. So I may have to wait until we finally move. When will that be? I don't know. A list of things need to happen first. None have happened yet.
So back to my cleaning and moving clutter from here to there. I will get back to shifting things around the stuff belonging to me and five others and make the best of a crowded situation. In all of this it is nice to know that God can see me in this messed up world I live in! If I need help He knows where to find me! In fact, He is the one leading me out of this mess one little scrap at a time! This maze is not too complicated or too big for Him.
Almighty and All-seeing God, You are the organizer of the universe. The world revolves around Your plan. I have a plan, but it is far from perfect. I work hard to make my plan succeed, but it is not working as I would like. Thank You for leading me. Thank You for being patient with this cluttered mind and all my things that will someday be ashes. Thank You for teaching me the wisdom of letting go! Make me more like You, setting things in place and keeping them in order. I need You!
I've been trying to simplify my life, but it seems I clear out one thing and three more run to take its place! My house cleaning/simplifying job is the worst. There is no room in a house filled with two families to make everything fit. I'm getting rid of a bunch, but could give away more. My only thought is that when I move and finally open my packed boxes I might find I gave away not the "Extra," but the only one of a certain item! So to be safe, I keep some things I am not sure about.
I'd really love to do as the shows on tv where they empty the room, clean it out completely, paint and repair. The next step is to sort and throw out before placing the room back without all the clutter. To do that I need extra hands. None seem willing or available. So I may have to wait until we finally move. When will that be? I don't know. A list of things need to happen first. None have happened yet.
So back to my cleaning and moving clutter from here to there. I will get back to shifting things around the stuff belonging to me and five others and make the best of a crowded situation. In all of this it is nice to know that God can see me in this messed up world I live in! If I need help He knows where to find me! In fact, He is the one leading me out of this mess one little scrap at a time! This maze is not too complicated or too big for Him.
Almighty and All-seeing God, You are the organizer of the universe. The world revolves around Your plan. I have a plan, but it is far from perfect. I work hard to make my plan succeed, but it is not working as I would like. Thank You for leading me. Thank You for being patient with this cluttered mind and all my things that will someday be ashes. Thank You for teaching me the wisdom of letting go! Make me more like You, setting things in place and keeping them in order. I need You!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Simplicity
I have been cleaning out closets, drawers and hidden spaces for weeks now. The job seems to grow more than diminish. I am finding that I have a mountain of paper to conquer. Just like any mountain it takes one step at a time to reach the top!
The more I delve into my task, the more I crave simplicity. I want to minimize the clutter. I want to throw away that which serves no useful purpose. I want to live smaller. I do not want to give up the richness of the written word, nor do I want to close myself off from the beauty that enriches my soul. but I do want to make it possible to really see the beauty and richness of life's blessings. I cannot do it when there is so much, and it becomes hidden under trivial things.
So, I plod my way through all the mess. I sort, organize, throw away and minimize. I have a long, long way to go. My road to simplicity is lined with litter from my past desires to hold on to what I thought was good. It is paved with good intentions. It is traveled slowly and one step at a time.
Father in Heaven, I imagine Your home in heaven to be simple beauty. I want that here as best I can. There is much for me to do to get where I want to be. I want Your strength, Your grace, and Your wisdom to guide me in this pursuit! Thank You for Your Spirit that draws me closer to heaven and calls me to simplicity!
The more I delve into my task, the more I crave simplicity. I want to minimize the clutter. I want to throw away that which serves no useful purpose. I want to live smaller. I do not want to give up the richness of the written word, nor do I want to close myself off from the beauty that enriches my soul. but I do want to make it possible to really see the beauty and richness of life's blessings. I cannot do it when there is so much, and it becomes hidden under trivial things.
So, I plod my way through all the mess. I sort, organize, throw away and minimize. I have a long, long way to go. My road to simplicity is lined with litter from my past desires to hold on to what I thought was good. It is paved with good intentions. It is traveled slowly and one step at a time.
Father in Heaven, I imagine Your home in heaven to be simple beauty. I want that here as best I can. There is much for me to do to get where I want to be. I want Your strength, Your grace, and Your wisdom to guide me in this pursuit! Thank You for Your Spirit that draws me closer to heaven and calls me to simplicity!
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