Isn’t the concept of cleaning up your house before guests come over so odd?
It’s total chaos. We frantically try to deep clean the nooks and crannies of our houses, that in reality, have probably never seen the end of a duster or a mop before. We push wrappers under couches (well if you’re Lori Ann, you do), we shove dirty dishes in cabinets, and we throw whatever’s left in the closets. You know exactly what I’m talking about, too… "If it’s out of sight, it’s in play!", right?
Okay, sure, common curtesy. But why? We all do it. It’s so strange to me that we all, collectively, universally, pretend that we have everything together, all of the time, and make it seem like our houses always smell like vanilla bean (or, insert favorite scent here) candles. I think it’s safe to say, at least for the Mitchell household (thanks to Seth and me), that our house is a wreck 96.3% of the time, but whenever guests come over, we have to act like we have it all figured out, and give off the impression that we always have a clean place. Side note: If you know my dad, you best believe there isn’t going to be an ounce of dust, dirt, dog hair, etc. anywhere. And I mean anywhere. Personally, I say we all just come to the honest conclusion that deep cleaning a house is entirely unnecessary for half a day’s worth of company. Yeah?
“Okay, yeah, Lori Ann, that’s not so spiritual (or funny)… I read your blog to feel uplifted and encouraged, not to hear your personal opinion on house cleaning.”
Alright, alright, sorry. Either tell me I’m funny (cause I am) or tell me this… Have we not done that with God? Have we not shoved our dirty secrets into closets? Have we not tried to hide our unclean thoughts under pretty, vacuumed mental and emotional rugs? If we know anything about The Lord and His sovereignty, we know that He sees those things. He sees everything. The closets, the corners, the cabinets. He made them, and He knows what’s in them. So why are we always so busy? Why are we always trying to clean up for God? We seriously think that stuffing things away will help God love us. God doesn’t need our act. He doesn’t need us to spray Spiritual Scented Febreze all over our sin. He sees. He knows. And He’s still here to stay.
No amount of cleaning up your spiritual messes will make God love you any more or any less. Today, I hope that you’ll open your heart to God and realize that He does the cleaning for you. You just gotta hand over the tools to let Him do it.