Feb
2
2013
Dirty Windows
Posted in Family Life 4 Comments
A young mother spent the days at home with her small children.
Some days were simply delightful, playing with them, reading with them, training them.
Some days were difficult and exhausting…when nothing seemed to go right.
Remnants of breakfast were on the floor under the high chair.
Jelly was stuck in the two year old’s hair.
As the sun shone through the glass storm door, she could see every hand print, every nose print, and little forehead marks pressed upon the glass.
She knew each print and who put them there.
She sighed and felt like she would never catch up.
Just when she got a little bit ahead, a diaper needed to be changed, the baby needed to be fed, and a favorite toy needed to be found.
When she finally sat down for a few minutes rest, she looked through the smeary glass door at the house across the street.
Manicured lawns, freshly painted doors, newly black-topped driveway.
Clean windows!
The clean windows did it!
I bet she never has finger prints on her glass door.
I know her kitchen floor is immaculate…without a crumb.
She probably never gets behind in her work.
She didn’t even know her neighbor…except when they waved from across the street.
She never made brownies when her neighbor moved in, because there was always something else that needed to be done.
She should invite her over one of these days.
She looked around her house…trying to see it through her neighbor’s eyes…and was embarrassed.
On a particularly hectic day…a day when the beds were not made…and the children were still in pajamas, a knock came to the door.
It was her neighbor from across the street.
She had a piece of mail in her hand that got delivered to her house by accident.
Would you like to come in?
I would love to!
Her heart racing, she stepped on a plastic toy and hurt her foot.
She could feel the tears so close and the knot in the back of her throat getting tighter.
The two year old had sticky jelly fingers and was grabbing for her neighbor’s hand.
There was a doll to be shown…as the little one led the way…not wanting to let go.
The jelly would make sure of that!
Her neighbor lovingly cuddled the doll…expertly burping the illusive gas bubble.
I’m sorry for the mess…it has been a busy morning. Can I make you some tea?
I would love some. Thank you.
She watched her neighbor play with her child.
She put the baby on her hip and filled the tea kettle.
Her child took to her neighbor easily.
Her child talked in words that only she could understand.
If her neighbor didn’t understand toddler-speak, you would never have guessed.
An expert with children, too!
The tea kettle whistled and jolted her out of her sour mood.
She poured the tea into mismatched mugs.
One had a chip on the handle.
Nothing was freshly baked…but there were graham crackers…and there was jelly.
They sat for a while in silence.
Finally, her neighbor spoke first.
I have wanted to invite you over…forgive me for not doing that.
I see you all the time through my glass door.
I watch you when you take a walk around the neighborhood.
I see how great you are with your children.
Thank you…I should have had you…made you brownies…but there never seems…
To be enough time?
She shook her head in agreement.
The sun was shining right through the glass door.
In addition to the finger prints were lines drawn by a sticky finger…right down the glass.
She got up, by impulse, and wiped the door with her napkin.
Oh, don’t do that…it’s lovely!
I never have prints on my door.
I KNOW, she grumbled in her mind.
We never could have children…always wanted them…just never could.
I would give anything for some hand prints on my door.
Do you want another cup of tea…so we can talk and get to know each other better?
She poured the tea in the mug with the chip on the handle.
Fine porcelain could never look as good as this!
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Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.
( 1 Peter 4:9-10)
Hospitality is so important.
Sometimes it is the best way to share Christ with another person.
Sharing Christ in relationship with another…in the everyday…in the ordinary.
Living out His Truth.
Living out His Love.
One-anothering.
Hospitality doesn’t have to be fancy…in fact, it is probably better when it is simple.
Hospitality can be grilled cheese on paper plates…and it will be wonderful!
Hospitality is time.
Time set aside…even unplanned…to show someone else they are important.
Hospitality makes you feel warm inside…heard…understood.
Hospitality shows another that they matter.
If they matter to God…they should matter to you!
Don’t wait until the house is perfect and all the jobs are done.
Your dirty windows will never stand in the way of God working through you.
Get out the rags and clean if you must.
Your Spirit-filled heart, your smile, and your time is all anyone ever needs.
God will take care of the rest!
I agree with Melissa. There were so many times when my boys were young that I feared having people over because of my messy house. I missed so many blessings! When I lightened up and began inviting people in, I made some of the best friends I have to this day! (We moved 8 times in 20 years!) To your young readers: don’t worry about the house, invite people in. God really does do the rest!
Janis,
Our houses are HIS anyway!
Like you said…so many blessings…so many opportunities when we open our houses for HIM!
Gina
Gina this is probably my favorite post! It literally made me tear up because I can relate so well! Thank you for always giving me something to think about and making me feel like no matter how sticky my floors might be and how crazy things are I am still loved and cherished.
Melissa,
You ARE loved and cherished…by HIM and by me…and all the women in our Bible study!
Gina