Monday, August 15, 2011

Dirty Angels

Hello. My name is Marilyn and I am a "Messie". I always knew I had trouble keeping up with my housework but I never knew there was a name for it until about twenty-five years ago when I was first introduced to Sandra Felton's book "The Messie's Manual". There she described two totally opposite kinds of people...the Messie and the Cleanie. Either of these taken to extremes can cause problems she said. I was very excited to find in The Messie's Manual some great ways to improve my housekeeping and have since then, from time to time, been able to get my house in order and keep it that way for a while. But usually, when I have a concentrated time of busy-ness, (preparing for a special event or, as now, putting up fruits and veggies from the garden) I will eventually fall back into my messy ways. Sometimes without really even knowing it until something happens. Like noticing that although I have been giving my living room a "lick and a promise" with a dust cloth, I evidently have been keeping my eyes close to the ground and have been missing these angels which reside up on a shelf above eye level.

My first response to seeing these dusty, cobwebby angels was to run and get the Endust and a rag! They shined up really nice but I could not help but feel guilty that these pretty angels had endured such neglect!

Strange how some things become invisible in our lives sometimes even when they're in plain sight! How long has it been since you spoke to that person who comes in late and sits on the back pew at your church? How long since you noticed the disappointment your child tried to hide when you had to cancel coming to his school play because you bring too much work home from the office every night? How long since you realized you really don't hear your best friend when she talks to you because your thoughts are on something else?

I have been guilty of things much more serious than not finding every cobweb in my house. I have been a "Messie" in so many other areas of my life. In not meeting some of the needs of my family simply because I didn't notice them. In not always having my quiet time with God because I overlooked my spiritual need and put some kind of work or pleasure in its place. I know we sometimes call nice people "angels" but really we're just human beings. But the term angel does makes us think of heavenly things. And seeing my angel collection dirty and dusty reminded me that as a Christian I sometimes let the world and its dirt settle on me. Oh I dust around on my life here and there but just don't look in all the right places and so let some of the dust build up. Until I begin to feel dirty and then start to try and find out what's going on .... or more correctly, not going on...in my spiritual life. Then if I ask Him to, God will show me the places I've been neglecting. And He will clean it all up for me if I ask. Ahhh. It feels so good to get things cleaned up. On the outside. And on the inside!

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.Psalm 51:7

I pray that I will be more aware of the areas of messiness in my life and in my spirit from now on!

Marilyn


13 comments:

Leah Adams said...

Hey friend, my solution to dusty stuff around my house is to GET RID OF IT. I have minimized as much of the collectibles and things that are decoration as possible. It cuts down on the dusting and the clutter. If it did not look so odd, I'd have just tables with nothing on them. I despise dusting!! Worst chore by far in my opinion.

Great post.

Diane said...

Great blog, Marilyn!! I want to 'Walk in Truth' and not overlook any of my 'messies' !
Very challenging! Thanks !

Marilyn in Mississippi said...

Leah, I had to laugh as I read your comment! I can tell that you are at the other end of the "cleaning spectrum" than I am! And also...that's one of the problems Messies have...we don't want to GET RID OF IT...we're too sentimental. lol The only reason I have the angels in the first place...as I try to NOT collect stuff...is that they were all given as gifts at separate times from separate people. So I just continue to struggle along knowing that I would feel SO much better if everything were all cleaned up. Maybe someday I'll be able to break the cycle. I really hope so! Love you and all the ways you encourage me!

Marilyn

Yolanda said...

What a great visual and love how you related this back to our journey this side of heaven walking with God.

Love YOU!

De'on said...

Wonderful! You are such a good woman!

Marilyn in Mississippi said...

De'on....I'm not but thanks for thinking I am! :) Love ya!

Peggy said...

Very Good! I hope you are feeling better.
With Love,
Peggy

Loretta said...

WONDERFUL! So agree. Hey, I'm a messie too but sometimes you (and I) don't get things cleaned up because we are about our Father's business. I know we can't use that all the time but you have to admit those time you're studying and preparing for a Bible study, etc. is important! Thanks for the lesson...I'm at work but makes me want to go home and dust my angels! Thanks, Marilyn....I've said before and will say again. You are a wonderful Godly woman that shares her faith in such a magnificent way!

Anonymous said...

AMEN Marilyn....this was EXCELLENT...

God bless and thanks so much for sharing this!!

HOPE

Aliene said...

I am always amazed at what you come up with just with everyday things and then make a spiritual application. This was really good.
Thanks.

Jean said...

Hi Marilyn

Enjoyed your post, I love how the Lord uses things in our everyday life to show us something just a bit deeper and to get us thinking about how we should act.

Blessings,
Jean

Anonymous said...

Oh to be a 'cleanie'! or maybe not. Perhaps just better to be a 'messy' because then the bits that do need a clean will help me grow spiritually as the Lord reveals those cobwebs in my life. So yes, I'll be a messy. Thanks for sharing Marilyn, I had to get dusting too.
Have a blessed week.
Jean

PAINTORDIG.blogspot.com said...

I uses to keep a clean house, but the older I get the more other things I find that are more interesting to do! I always say you are a long time dead,do what is important to you now!