Memories of a fine mess

In Valentines past, our house was a mess. When the kids were little, we cluttered the place with toys, half-finished projects, and living. We often had books stacked everywhere, laundry to fold, and dishes in the sink. I just couldn't keep up.

Now our place is neat and picked up. There are things we still have to sell in our office and storage area. But for the most part, it's clean around here. We vacuum and wash the white concrete floors a few times a week. It takes a half hour to go top-to-bottom through the living areas.

Moms with grown kids told me, "Don't worry about maintaining a tidy house" while our kids were youngsters. They assured me that they'd grow up and leave sooner rather than later. Then I could have order and organization.

The day has come. Dare I admit it? "I LOVE IT!" We enjoy visits with our kids and grandkids. We love having friends over. But we breathe peaceful sighs when we walk through the door ourselves, to an apartment that's picked up. Cleaned up. Quiet. Relaxing.

In this matter, "empty nest is not a syndrome but a vacation." I'd encourage all young families to enjoy the creativity of kids around. Have fun. Try stuff. Make a mess. Clean up as much as you can but don't sweat it. Have people over anyway. (Your guests won't care: we're just happy your chaos doesn't belong to us.)

Your day is coming, when your kids have families and homes of their own. Just be forewarned: that day just may feel happier than you think!

Read more:
*I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication. Zechariah 12:10 (NASB)

*For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 ESV

*A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35 ESV

*Jesus says: "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth." John 16:13

Moravian Prayer: Eternal God, you sent your Son as promised. Your grace is freely offered to us. Open our hearts that we may we be transformed by your Spirit of truth and grace. We do not have words to adequately thank you for blessing us with your Spirit. May our gratitude be shown in our daily walk with you. Amen.

*C.S. Lewis, On comfort

God is the only comfort. He is also the supreme terror: the thing we most need and the thing we most want to hide from. He is our only possible ally, and we have made ourselves His enemies. Some people talk as if meeting the gaze of absolute goodness would be fun. They need to think again. They are still only playing with religion. 

Goodness is either the great safety or the great danger—according to the way you react to it. And we have reacted the wrong way. . . . Of course, I quite agree that the Christian religion is, in the long run, a thing of unspeakable comfort. But it does not begin in comfort; it begins in the dismay I have been describing, and it is no use at all trying to go on to that comfort without first going through that dismay. In religion, as in war and everything else, comfort is the one thing you cannot get by looking for it. If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end: if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth—only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin with and, in the end, despair.