Monday, August 16, 2010

When You Dance with the Broom

When the day dawns and sun kisses your morning. Wipe sleep from your eyes to prepare for the task ahead. Momma slips into well worn rags decorated with bleach prints, cloth awaiting the adventure. Cleaning begins. The deep kind that scours corners, unearths dust hiding from sight, shines floors, bans clutter. Room to room, leaving a scent of fresh accomplishment. To be keeper of this treasure, my home. Dancing with well worn corn broom.

In my life, much the same. Cleaning continues. The deep kind. No longer hiding the dust that clings to unused talents. Cobwebs of fear swept away by growing faith. His Word, washing away the dinginess and stains on my heart. Each room, leaving His fresh scent. We truly are the aroma to this world. Dancing with Him and the corn broom.

Continuing to count my thanks in praise ...
20. toilets to scour that flush (living in places without, I rejoice now)
21. the smell of fresh laundry off the line
22. fingerprint smudges everywhere, wiping away I will someday miss
23. little boy treasures unearthed from secret hiding places
24. a house that almost overwhelms me to clean as His abundant blessing
25. stairs to sweep (my youngest has always dreamed of stairs)
26. bathtubs to rinse (my oldest longed for a bathtub for years on the mission field)
27. one word, a US washing machine and the memories of scrubbing boy dirt by hand
28. dust bunnies under a marriage bed
29. a corn broom handed down, perfect for dancing
30. our Bibles, all 4 dust free
31. the power of God's Word to clean away the grime of lives



holy experience

28 comments:

Amber said...

#22 and #24 Oh, how true. My little one's hands haven't started leaving smudges, but I imagine I will one day long for those little hands to be leaving smudge marks behind.

I am getting ready to clean house after being gone for 2 weeks, so #24 is a great reminder.

Thank you!

Unknown said...

Beautiful grateful list sweet friend!

Happy 6th Birthday to your sweet boy!

I love you and wish you a blessed day!
Jill

Debbie Petras said...

Such wonderful blessings! It's all a matter of proper perspective, isn't it?

Love you Sara,
Debbie

Stephanie M. Page said...

This is a truly precious post. I love it, and can relate as I too spent time in homes that weren't my own with out washing machines and water when I needed it!!

Karen said...

Sara, So happy you stopped by Places of my Heart. Our paths might not have crossed. Yes, those gifts are recognized when you have not had them. Enjoyed looking around; I will be back.
Karen

Heather@Cultivated Lives said...

What a beautiful list. It makes me actually anticipate the cleaning - both the physical, but even more the cleaning God is doing in my own heart.

So much to be grateful for. Thanks for enlarging the scope of His many gifts to us.

p.s. I think it's so funny that we would meet up again like this thru the gratitude community. But I remember 're-meeting' you at the EVCHE homeschool mtg last September... small world.

Laura said...

Thanks for stopping by my place! It's great to meet you. :) I loved your list of thankfuls, and am also thankful that God's Word cleanses my smudged life.

-t- said...

I love the cleaning analogy- oh so true :)

Thanks for sharing your gifts today & #22 - it kinda smarts a little, knowing I will miss it all too soon :}

His blessings, Gratitude Friend!

Jodi said...

The title of your post really caught my eye, and I love your insight. Thank you.

Denise said...

I love this list sis.

Unknown said...

I was just complaining about my kitchen and here is your list... standing as a reminder. Thanks!

Amy said...

Absolutely love your list this week. When my kids head back to school this week I have a lot of cleaning to do. Your list inspires me.

Natalie said...

What a beautiful post, Sara! How wonderful to remember His careful and gentle and thorough cleaning of us as we clean our earthly home. Thank you for your sweet comment on my blog today!

Donna said...

Read your list and splashed around with you!! I can report that I was drenched in the Father's love today.

You inspire worship of the Most High.
Thanks for visiting and commenting on my blog.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful list! I definitely need to do some of that kind of dancing this week...both the domestic kind and the spiritual variety. I think that I'll be sure to enlist some dance partners for the domestic kind though! Have a blessed week, Sara.

Anonymous said...

What a great list! Being thankful for things that many (including me) take for granted. Thank you for the lovely reminder and stopping by my blog.

Peace & Blessings,
Mary
http://memyselfandmercy.blogspot.com/

Lora Maria said...

Hi Sara. Beautiful writing. I love you list. Especially finger prints we will one day miss. :) so true.
Happy homeschooling this week!
Blessings to you and your little castle.

Nancy said...

Yes--I need to be reminded that it is gift, having home and places and things to clean! And yes, you will miss this fingerprints; leave a couple! Lovely post. Thanks for stopping by my place. Blessings.

livinginbetween said...

The smell of fresh laundry, a washing machine, and especially dust free Bibles . . . giving thanks with you!

EM said...

Thank you for splashing your presence at Redeemed Days! Your list of thanks is truly inspiring. Thank you for reminding me of the blessings I so quickly forget.
eleanor

Anna said...

Wow. Beautiful list. I came here from Scribbles 'n' Things, and I'm so glad I clicked through. I love your thankfuls. :)

Angela said...

So nice to meet you, Sara! Thanks for stopping by my place and for your beautiful words.

I lived in Phx for 7 years. Arizona will always have a place in my heart.

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

LOVE your list, very insightful!
kim

Anonymous said...

What a delightful blog! Thank you.

Especially loved this:

"No longer hiding the dust that clings to unused talents."

Yes...

E Living said...

Ok, your list almost has me in tears. Wow can I ever relate...well, to the dreams of little ones. My boys dream of a yard, I dream of a washing machine again (although I do not wash mush by hand, the laundromat isn't exactly the most family friendly place!). And laundry from the line - can't wait to do that again! :-) God's blessings are everywhere, small and large. Such a blessing to see the ones many think of as small...being huge blessings. You don't know what you miss and value until it's gone. I'll have to read more about you in your bio - didn't know you were on the mission field. God bless!

Manda said...

Laundry off the line brought me back to childhood... and 28 & 30 are rich to me!!!

Fradaz said...

Such a beautiful piece, thank you.

Kerrie said...

What a lovely list! I'm so glad you stopped by my blog the other day, so that I could be introduced to yours! I'll be back, for sure! Blessings.