Aloha!
I was humbled, challenged, and encouraged by a post on facebook by a sweet young bride who was delighting in being able to be home in time to get the house clean and make dinner for her new husband.
More often than not, I find myself moaning or grumbling while scrubbing the bathroom. This bride's simple devotion and delight reminded me of the days when I delighted in making my first home sparkle. Not because I loved cleaning...I don't think that has ever been my first love...but because of my love for my husband, and my delight in bring him pleasure. I would scurry around the house literally singing and smiling, preparing for his homecoming.
Over the course of almost 20 years of cleaning house and cooking, those tasks have become mundane. The task of cleaning is more a chore than a delight due in no small part to the fact that no sooner do I "finish" cleaning or doing dishes, the mess begins to multiply. It is a never ending cycle.
But today as I was cleaning the bathroom, pondering the freshness of the attitude of my newly married friend, I was reminded of the passage in Revelation that Jesus speaks to the church in Ephesus who work, toil, patiently endure, and hold to truth, yet have abandoned the love they had at first. Christ exhorts them to remember from where they have fallen, repent and do the works they did at first.
I've never stopped cleaning the house, preparing meals for my family. Nor have I stopped loving my husband...however I have abandoned the love I had at first in some ways. I don't clean the house out of pure devotion to my husband, or to my Lord. I am to do all things as unto the Lord, and to glorify God. This includes cleaning and cooking, doesn't it. Is my grumbling spirit a glory to Christ? Is it out of devotion to Him. Does it bless my husband? No.
My dear Christian sister reminded me how far I fall short. I am so thankful for this heart check and for the mercy of Christ. I can repent and do the works I did at first, out of love for my dear husband, and simple devotion to my precious Savior. May my heart be ever filled with cheerful delighting in doing ALL things for God's glory.
Today my bathroom cleaned with a joyful heart! Praise the Lord!
I Cor 10:31 - "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
[Even housework :) ]
