What makes you hard to live with? Are you afraid to go there? Even more afraid to ask someone else? It’s not easy to face our “ugly spots;” we tend to want to cover up or stuff them. Real love doesn’t back away from a mess.
 |
| Photo credit Flickr ~ Grace and Lily |
I’ve been stuffing for the last six years. In my closet. It’s one of the ways I get a lot done. š It’s part of the “messy” in my Life Off Line. I just “stuff it” in there to deal with later. You can imagine where that got me! And can I say here that I fully intended to take a picture and show you, but it didn’t happen, because …
My Jeff really loves me, and he knew I needed help with my mess. He took his Saturday afternoon to tackle my mess. First he told me to keep in mind that anything to follow wasn’t personal, a reflection on my worth as a person (he had a trash bag in hand), or his love for me. š You may remember that when he helped with my pantry, I didn’t respond with total grace. :/ So while I grabbed a Diet Dr. Pepper, he started emptying my vault. My first thought: “Wow! I can pack a lot of stuff in a closet!”
It’s hard enough to call a mess what it is, whether it’s a closet, a habit, or a circumstance we’ve made, but it’s harder to tackle the mountain alone. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not a candidate for “Hoarders,” but that might only be because Jeff doesn’t back off from a mess. A working friend is a blessing, and in marriage a spouse that will get dirty and make our mess their own is truly a gift. It’s a timeless truth that, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor” (Eccl. 4:9).
- Knowing we have to tackle a mess alone often keeps us from tackling it at all.
- Our husbands are blessed when we allow them the privilege of meeting a need, lifting our load, and being our knight in shining closet organization.
- They are helped when we come alongside them to help tackle their mountains with an attitude of humility and love, instead of criticism or belittling.
- They don’t want to see us standing in front of them with a trash bag in hand and a glimmer in our eye!
My closet wasn’t my only mess, but it was a big one. I’ll bet you have a mess somewhere. It may not be the shape of a closet. It may be habit-shaped or attitude-shaped or heart-shaped; whatever the shape of your mess or your husband’s, real love won’t back away.
Today’s Life Off Line Challenge:
– Ask God to show you an area in your life that needs to be addressed, instead of overlooked.
– Ask your husband if there’s anything in his life that would be a relief to have help to take care of … and then change your schedule to be his helper.
Love this! Hubby and I just tackled some messes in our house together last night after the kids went to bed – and no one was grouchy…quite an accomplishment for us! š Lots of prayer helps!
Good for you! And doesn't it feel good to clean up "life" together? š Julie Sanders
http://www.comehaveapeace.blogspot.com
________________________________
From: Disqus <>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, January 23, 2012 12:27 PM
Subject: [comehaveapeace] Re: Come Have a Peace
Disqus generic email template
That looks like MY closet, organized to a point.
It thatĀ aĀ child on the top shelf? wow
My goal this yearĀ is to reorganize and make better use of the closet.
Wish me luck.Ā
It IS a child … but that's not my closet. Remember that Jeff dove into the clean out before I thought to do a "before" shot. š I had to go to Flickr for this one. Not surprisingly, there were LOTS of "messy closet" shots, so we aren't alone! š Julie Sanders
http://www.comehaveapeace.blogspot.com
________________________________
From: Disqus <>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, January 23, 2012 3:58 PM
Subject: [comehaveapeace] Re: Come Have a Peace
Disqus generic email template
ah, so sweet.
i have a mess, in my makeup drawer…does that count? š
Real love doesn't back away from a mess….that phrase will stick with me today. Thank you. I think you will understand all the meaning in that. It is a good phrase to hear today. Love you! Appreciate you and these blogs.Ā
And praying for you and those around you. The bigger the "mess," the harder it is, but don't back away. Love and prayers to you! Julie Sanders
http://www.comehaveapeace.blogspot.com
________________________________
From: Disqus <>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 4:34 AM
Subject: [comehaveapeace] Re: Come Have a Peace
Disqus generic email template
It does … and I do too, but Jeff's not really the one to help me there. š Maybe having a mess there is my "daily reminder" to focus on being inwardly beautiful! Maybe …. someday I post a picture of my drawer. š Julie Sanders
http://www.comehaveapeace.blogspot.com
________________________________
From: Disqus <>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 1:24 AM
Subject: [comehaveapeace] Re: Come Have a Peace
Disqus generic email template