I admit it, I like a clean house. Okay, maybe worse than that. If you want to call putting someone’s glass in the dishwasher before they had a chance to finish drinking it, OBSESSIVE, than go right ahead. I have several excuses for my obsessive behavior. Having a house in order helps me feel in control. I also find quick gratification in these seemly mundane tasks, a kind of gratification that is hard to find in the outside world. And lastly, I love to have company, so I want my house to sparkle 24/7 for surprise guests.
This weekend I was vacuuming and decided to move the couch. Unbeknownst to me, there was a plethora of things small and sticky hiding under there. Dried chocolate milk that had obviously been spilled through the cushions of the couch and “secretly” cleaned up. Fish crackers, M & M’s, and peanut…all mixed in with tumbleweed balls of dog hair and a few pennies for good measure.
My first thought: “How embarrassing, my house probably stinks like rotten milk and my friends are too nice to tell me!”
My second thought: “How did my priorities get so messed up? Is my goal to live in a model home, or is my goal to have the light of Jesus shine through my life?”
Colossians 3:23 (ISV) says, “Whatever you do, work at it wholeheartedly as though you were doing it for the Lord and not merely for people.” Clearly, I have something to learn here.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT) teaches us how others will see Jesus in us. “The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Scripture doesn’t say, “They will know Jesus by your sparkling floors and clutter free counters.”
Next time you are at my house, I promise to push my couch back over the dried-up chocolate milk, crumbs and dog hair. We can sit and enjoy a cup of coffee and conversation. And if you set down your coffee cup, you can feel secure that I won’t clean it up. You are more important than a clean house.
So tell me, what’s under your couch?
Angela Howard
October 28, 2013My couch is too heavy for me to move but now I’m going to HAVE to have Michael move it tonight! Who knows what’s under there! I could have written this blog. Great post! Time to focus on what really matters–after I look under my couch. 🙂
Deborah Sewell
October 29, 2013After posting about my stinky fridge, I could read this with a clear conscience. Being the oldest of five, I have never been obsessed with cleaning. With by granddaughter here some days, I have had to lower my standards even more. I have already witnessed the speed growing of my children and do not want to miss one precious moment with her. I was just asked to rock and read. She is showing me a word book and saying, “Whaaas sat! Later!
Sherrese Moore
October 29, 2013There is nothing under my couch, however mu husbands tools are behind it though. We hosted our first dinner party as a married couple this past Sunday and I found these things as I was cleaning and preparing. But I had to let it go and focus on others things and believe me this was hard to do as I desire my home in complete order all the time. Of course my family doesn’t see it that way.
Loved your blog. So true focus needs to be on the things that bring glory to the Lord and more on those visiting than cleaning.
angelalcraig
October 29, 2013Thank you Sherrese, Angela and Deborah for sharing your stories. They made me grin! Thank you for reading and have an amazing day!
Ann Pegher
October 30, 2013hmmmm…under my couch are a couple doggie toys, usually…a few dust bunnies…a couple booklets on trains…that’s about it! I tend to use the vacuum attachments fairly regularly, soooo not too bad….yay! 🙂
Melisa Turner
October 31, 2013Scripture doesn’t say, “They will know Jesus by your sparkling floors and clutter free counters.” ~ Angela Craig
You just set me free with that quote 🙂
Thank you for being authentic and helping to declutter what really matters, things like my character and concern for others!
angelalcraig
October 31, 2013Thanks you Melisa. Let’s help each other stay free! So thankful to be your friend!