Clean House and Clean Heart

Day 18 of Photo Inspirations -- This is my squeaky clean house!  I'm pretty good at keeping a clean and tidy home, but I'm still grateful that once a month I have a sweet gal that comes and gives my home a thorough cleaning -- top to bottom --- blinds, baseboards, windows -- you know the things we typically avoid until we HAVE to get it done.  It was especially wonderful to have her here  -- the day after I took down all my Christmas decorations!  Whew -- over a month of dust underneath all of it -- shedding of garland everywhere, etc.

As meticulous as my cleaning lady is, however, when she's gone....I'll usually find a little area she missed -- maybe a a few dustballs she overlooked -- no big deal, but it represents something that keeps my home from being squeaky clean.
The scripture "Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me", comes to mind, especially when I realize there are some less than squeaky clean areas in my heart that need a "house-cleaning".  Maybe it's the difficult people that I'd prefer to avoid or the ones who have the incessantly determined barking dog next door, or the grumpy and cranky ones.  Those folks represent the little "dust balls" in my heart and I realized this morning -- it's time to sweep clean those areas of my heart.
Sweeping clean means to center on Jesus' example.  He certainly dealt with many difficult people during His time here on earth. His attitude about them was expressed best in His Sermon on the Mount.  He was quite specific: "I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:27-31).

That kind of love is much more than heart "cleaning".  It's heart transformation, because my present attitude toward the hard-to-love people around me is keeping me from being the LIGHT to my world.  I realize that it's not a monthly cleaning that my heart needs, it's a minute-by-minute with the One who is consistently kind even to the ungrateful.  When we bring His EXPERT Cleaning Services into our hearts -- we'll start to take on His character and we'll love the way He loves and our hearts will become SQUEAKY CLEAN!
#CleanHouse #CleanHeart

Lathered Up With a Fishing Pole Between Our Toes

As I looked up at my office wall yesterday, I was reminded of one of my favorite fishing stories.  My husband, teenage daughter and I flew on a seaplane into secluded, Side Saddle Lake in Manitoba to fish for the day.  A seaplane was the only way to get into that lake.   My husband, with his organized personality, had all his fishing equipment in order and ready to go.  That included a depth finder, a fish locator, and every rigging you could possibly need to catch "the big one"!  His philosophy was always "If you're going to do something, do it right and do the best job you can at it!"

My daughter and I, on the other hand, both sanguine personalities, take-it-as-it-comes and fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants mentality, had two things in mind, to catch fish and to catch some sun rays.  We were greased up from head to toe in suntan oil.  My husband, with his meticulous way of doing things, patiently trolled the boat all around the lake, ensuring we were on just the right spots to catch walleye,  Staci eventually had on a 12-pound alligator gar that was so strong and mighty, it nose-dived and went right through the fish net when she tried to land it.  Now there was this gapping hole in the net.

Not long after that, Staci and I were both laying back in the boat, catching some rays, oiled up, and our fishing rods were snug between our toes. My husband was dismayed that we were getting suntan oil all over his tackle and bait. Bless his heart -- he tried so hard to be patient with us.   Suddenly I had a huge hit on my line. We could see it was a BIG ONE -- a big walleye.   Staci and I were squealing and rocking the boat and Ron did his best to calm us down. I reeled as he held the net (with the hole in it).  With even more determination, he helped me get that 'big boy' into the boat, which is the fish you see here.

Ron was so proud of me, as that "catch" qualified me as a Master Angler in the Province of Manitoba.  

When I think about all my precious husband went through to make for such a great experience for his girls -- the details, the right equipment, the perfect location and setting -- not to mention the stress we gave him -- I know, that still, he was absolutely bursting with joy and pride at HIS accomplishments.  But, I have to tell you, he took life so seriously -- he worked so hard -- he was so detailed in getting things done just right -- and often in the middle of it all had so much less fun than we did.  Then there's his two girls that just showed up and relaxed and embraced the moments, and had a party.   It was immaterial to us if we caught any fish at all.  We were there for the fun (that's what sanguines do).  But, all in all, we needed each other  then, and we ALL need each other today!  Regardless of the personality differences -- the ones who have it altogether, as well as those who are free-spirited, we need each other.  We bring balance to each other.  Opposites "attract" for a reason -- it certainly was that way for us for over 44 years.  He made us better because of his organization.  We made him better because he learned to "chill" more.   And, if we all took life less seriously, if we slowed down, relaxed and embraced the moments, we will find blessings just come so naturally --  even if we're all lathered up with a fishing pole between our toes!