Tag Archives: Thanksgiving

“Cleaning House” Really Does Matter

There are days when spic-and-span is a must, but in general, I stopped stressing too much about my kids’ bedrooms long ago.  While our definitions of clean are very different, the bedrooms simply do not justify blood, sweat, and tears on a regular basis.

Not long ago, I rearranged our 11 year old’s bedroom.  Caden, who has had bunk beds for many years, was ready for a change and when furniture is being moved around it’s time to really dig in.  There are times when “Cleaning House” Really Does Matter.

cadens-bedroom

I started with the empty water bottles.  When I was finished collecting them, they filled the kitchen sink.

I moved on to trash.  In addition to the somewhat expected 11-year-old-boy trash (candy wrappers and broken toy parts), Caden had a whole box of Kleenex (used) between his bed and the wall.  He explained that it’s easier to stash them when you have a cold than to put them in the trashcan.  He did have a valid point.  The trashcan was on the opposite side of the room.

From there I addressed the things I knew he’d outgrown.  We tend to add to the closet and dresser but don’t remove things as often as we should.  It was time.  It was also time to address some toys that no longer “fit”.

Caden was not quite ready to give up his collection of costumes and was still highly attached to his stuffed animals when we moved into this house 18 months ago.  I knew he’d moved on so I bagged them all up and tossed them in the den for Caden to sort through when he returned home from school.

As I pulled from his closet, I sorted toys on his newly arranged beds.  One bed held those I assumed were keepers and the other held toys I felt he would likely want to add to our give-away mountain in the garage.

With all his “keeper” toys laid out on one bed, I had a bit of an “a-ha” moment.

Caden has some really neat things.  I hadn’t seen some of them in many months.  I imagine Caden hadn’t remembered what was stashed in the depths, either.

I stepped back a bit and considered the other things I’d sorted through.  Caden has some sharp-looking clothes I never see him wear.  Doubtless, a stuffed closet and a stuffed dresser are difficult to manage when you’ve hit the snooze button one too many times in the morning.

I really allowed this reflecting I’d begun to hit home.

How many “things” in my life have I outgrown?  How many “things” clutter my mind and affect my emotions throughout the day simply because the “trashcan” isn’t close enough?

And what about my blessings?  Are there treasures in my life that I take for granted?  What richness surrounds me that I’ve lost sight of because I’ve been too focused on the trash in my life?  Have I lost sight of my many blessings amidst the clutter?  And finally, one last tough questions in light of the 2016 presidential election this week, do I allow the clutter (or Facebook commentaries) to rob me of the fantastic and the beautiful in my here and now?

There is room for some “cleaning house” in my life as we approach Thanksgiving.   What about you?

Comfort Really Does Matter

Two nights over the Thanksgiving holiday my husband, Franklin, and I slept on a concrete floor.  I’d actually asked for the space we slept in as it was the coolest part of my sister and brother-in-law’s home.  I’d been under the weather and seemed to cough more when I was too warm.  We were actually quite comfortable with camping pads and a pile of quilts.  Our sleeping arrangements gave me pause to think about comfort before drifting off to sleep because Comfort Really Does Matter.

BL

Certainly our perception of “comfort” is relative.  While the Kim Kardashians of the world might baulk at my Wal-Mart jeans and Target leggings, I’ve always had a roof over my head, 3 meals a day, and a closet full of clothes to choose from.  From my perch atop my lap of luxury I certainly have a hard time imagining “comfortable” in the life of one of the 3 billion people in the world who live on $2.50 or less a day.

In many other ways I have a life of “comfort”.  Over Thanksgiving I was blessed to have my children, my mom, all of my siblings, their spouses, and their children together for 4 days.  I enjoyed my first snow of the year (a beautiful, soft Colorado snow) from a warm window seat and certainly enjoyed my time with my extended family!

I’ve pondered “comfort” in another context quite a bit this fall in Community Bible Study.  We’ve been camped in 1 John for a while and have been considering what the directive “abide in The Lord” might really look like in our lives.  One of the definitions, the idea that when we “abide in The Lord” we’re comfortable with the things and the way of The Lord, has really had me thinking.

Grandmother Billie is a beautiful example of being comfortable with the ways and the things of The Lord.  Billie, our oldest’s great-grandmother, loves her time with Bailey.  Bailey will share about his life and her comments are sprinkled with, “Praise The Lord!”, “Thank You, Jesus!”, and “Lord, You are good!” exclamations.

She’s comfortable in the ways of The Lord and would likewise be very uncomfortable sitting with us if we were listening to, watching, or engaging in things that are contrary to The Lord’s ways.

We were challenged to pick a day and imagine Jesus physically sitting with us, working beside us, and eating with us – never leaving our side for an entire day.  While God’s Holy Spirit is with us in this way, every day, we often negate His presence in our busy, me-centered lives.  This challenge really gave me food for thought.

Do we live in such a way that Jesus would be comfortable being with us from sunup to sundown?  Would our morning routine make Him comfortable?  Would the programming (TV, playlists, radio, facebook) we choose to watch and listen to make Him comfortable? Would my interactions with my children, my response to frustrations throughout the day, my conversations with friends, and my attitude toward my husband make Him comfortable?  Would He be comfortable with how I choose to spend my time?

What a beautiful season we’ve entered.  As we marvel in the birth of Jesus Christ and wait, expectantly, for His second coming, I’m challenged to focus on The Lord; His presence in my life, His ways, and His mind.  He’s asking me to value Him above all the craziness in the world and the traps of craziness in this season.  He’s calling me to be content with what I have, because what I have is amazing!  I have the perfect Father (who is good and right and just) and salvation through the birth, death, and resurrection of His son, Jesus Christ who continually intercedes for me.  What more could I ask for?

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