After a weekend away, I arrive home to a sleeping house. It’s after 11 at night but even in the dark I can see it waiting for me. I know to expect it and have already prepared myself.
And what a mess it is.
Laundry covers every surface of the living room, some of which lies on the floor when someone sat on the couch and tossed the clothes out of their way. The kitchen counters are hidden beneath a mountain of mail, Sunday school coloring pages, and other random items. The table is sticky and cereal crunches on the floor under my feet. The kid’s toys are scattered about and I dare not enter the school room where the list of lessons I had left remain untouched.
This kind of chaos used to leave me a twisted wreck inside. When my kids were little and I went out with friends for the evening, returning to messes like this, often made me think, “What’s the point in leaving for relaxation only to return to this?” Every bit of peace I had gathered while I was out would immediately rush out like air from a balloon, leaving me deflated and discouraged.
Since God opened my eyes to see all things through the eyes of grace, I now see this mess differently. Learning to rejoice and give thanks in all things has changed my perspective. Instead of only seeing the chaos, I now see what did happen while I was gone.The laundry covering all the living room surfaces show me that my husband was considerate to wash clothes. The piles scattered around the house tell me that they had fun together. I see the wet suits drying in the bathroom, knowing it means that they went for a swim. Grass speckled sneakers lie next to the door, showing me that they made it to soccer. I see their thoughtfulness in the empty sink and the dishwasher with the clean light on. I also see that they ate all the food I had made for them to eat while I was away. All a trail of grace left for me to accept with gratitude.
Where chaos, mess, and disorganization once put me on edge, now I see it as evidence of life lived full. They are signs of two boys learning, imagining, and laughing. It reveals the gift of family and of a husband who makes a way for me to go out of town, despite any inconvenience to him.
Sometimes the messes in life can be redeemed through the eyes of grace. Seeing all things, even the messes, as gifts from the Father can transform an anxiety filled heart to one of peace. Living life in the moment, with gratitude, makes the chaos of life a gift to be treasured.
I did my best the next day to make some sense of the tornado that touched down in the house. In between catching up with school work, a doctor’s appointment, and errands, I picked up little by little. By evening though, the laundry still lay all over the living room. Figuring I would tackle it the next day, I drove the kids to Cub Scouts. Pulling into the parking lot, I was surprised to find my husband there because I didn’t think he would have time to go. He took the kids inside and suggested I go on home. And in the quiet of the evening, I folded all the laundry and put it away. Counting each shirt and each sock as gifts, seen only through the eyes of grace.
Counting in community (#1847-1859):
Feeling overwhelmed but knowing that God will help me get everything done that He wants done
The kid’s developing sense of humor
Celebrating my oldest’s eighth birthday
Going through his old scrapbooks with him
Attending a friend’s wedding
Staying at one of my favorite hotels and my husband surprising me with a visit to the spa
A relaxing massage at the hotel’s spa
visiting with old college friends
A friend bringing food over for dinner
Pumpkin crisp for dessert:)
Ending the weekend sick, but knowing God will work out everything left undone
My husband pushing back his flight out of town so that I could rest and get better
Linking up with my friends at:
Christina…this is just beautiful…lovely testimony…and yes…seeing through His eyes of Grace has transformed so much for me too…blessings and happy counting:)
Thank you, Ro! And it is transforming, isn’t it? Blessings to you!
Great perspective on a messy house! I needed to learn this lesson when my kids were growing up. Grace covers all…….
I’m still learning and sometimes my view gets cloudy and I need to clean my lens so I can see clearly again. But viewing life through grace provides a beautiful view. Thanks for stopping by!
Love this sweet friend! You are so blessed!
Thank you! So glad you visited!
Sounds kind of like my every day mess. I love your perspective. with a renewed perspective we can still praise and actually have joy in cleaning up the messes. Love that we have such full lives to clean up after.
A well lived life, messes and all, is the best life:) Thanks, friend!
God’s grace is working in you - that you are seeing goodness everywhere. Lovely!
Thank you! Yes, God’s goodness is evident everywhere, even in the messes of my life. So glad you visited!
Grace leaves everything beautiful, doesn’t it…even our messes.
And what’s even better? the mess shows you were missed
I could go on and on about this….but I can’t get over the pumpkin crisp! I can’t believe I’ve never had that! Must fix that this week…
The pumpkin crisp is amazing. A friend found the recipe on Pinterest. I must have it again!
How lovely Christina! What a wonderful testimony! Being a single mom I find it very hard to see alot of things through the eyes of grace. I pray that God will show me how!
Only He can give us eyes to see, praying that He does that for all of us. I’m so blessed by your visit!
Hope you do indeed feel better - and Happy 8th birthday to your oldest! You say it perfectly: “the messes in life can be redeemed through the eyes of grace” - my living has become richer, more fulfilled in finding the blessings God sends me daily - blessings I have over-looked before. Isn’t amazing those moments when folding laundry leaves on feeling good on the inside? ! LOL - Have a blessed week!
Thank you for your sweet words. Only God can give that kind of joy, where it’s with us no matter what we are doing. It’s true, our lives do become richer when we realize all that we already have. Blessings!
It has everything to do with perspective! Great post Christina. Thanks for linking up today.
Thanks, Eileen!
Your words are gentle, forgiving, grace-filled and its just peaceful here. Yummy to the pumpkin crisp. I adore any and all things pumpkin. Your sweet spirit sings a love song for your family here. Beautiful, friend.
Oh, I know, I dream about pumpkin recipes in the fall:) Thanks for your kind, encouraging comment. It was a blessing to me. Blessings on your week!
Really lovely.
That is a lovely blessing, Christina. I learned a long time ago that my man just does things differently-and it’s important for our kids to experience his way too
. Sweet thoughts here.
What a great perspective!! I think we all need to remember that God gives us all we need to handle all He puts before us
What a blessing to be able to see the mess and chaos as signs of life!! I tend to focus WAY too much on the mess most of the time. Thank you for sharing your heart-and for linking up today!
So lovely! I struggle with the mess and throwing my hands up….and am working on seeing the grace in the disaster. Thank you for such a gentle reminder!
Wow this post had me tearing up with it’s beauty. What an amazing family you have and I absolutely love your ability to see past what is right in front of you and instead see what blessings happened while you were gone.
Pingback: Grace Notes « With All Joy