Saturday, September 19, 2009

From the Inside Out

So apparently, I am on a bloggy break (smile). However, I am interrupting this break for a post. I know. Surprised me a bit also. It is not that I don't have a hundred posts twirling in my head, it is that I feel the need to get certain things in order and fortunately or unfortunately, I am comfortable allowing the blog to take the blow until the timing is right.


Of course, I'd love to post about back to school because this year, three in our family went back. I accepted a long term sub opportunity for a third grade class, Emily headed back in the second grade and Hannah is now a big three year old in her preschool!




Our littest ladybug is on her new school induced schedule and even those weekend days don't prevent her little body from waking very early in the morning. So, as we wiped the drowsy from our eyes this beautiful autumn morning, I sought to be productive. I felt led to clean the windows! All.of.them.

The windows should easily fold in so that the inside and outside can be cleaned with ease. Some of the windows did not yield easily. And it caused me pause...I thought about our own inability to yield to the process of getting clean from the inside out. It is pretty simple to clean up the outside, polishing up our seen and visible places and carefully hiding away our unseen places. The thing about a window is, they are or should be transparent. So, it stands to reason that even when the outside is clean, the inside needs to be polished as well.

Who would think a task as mundane as washing the windows could evoke such deep thoughts? But it did. And I considered all the ways the Lord wants me to clean up the inside just as pretty as I clean up the outside (most days:) I am excited to begin a new year of Bible Study with a host of amazing women. What a blessing to know them, pray with them, parent with them and walk our walk together. We will be dealing with brokenness and blind spots. To some scary, to me, another path I'm led to travel and hopefully windex away the grime and dirt that clogs up my life.

The actual act of cleaning also brought about some awesome thoughts. The first window remains home to a mother spider and her babies. As I folded out the window, I caught a glimpse of her and her many offspring, as they scrambled away from my enemy hands. I thought of how miraculous life is, all life, even tiny lives. The second window had a giant knothole in the wood below the transom. It reminded me of the endless hours Rob spent building each and every frame. Our great room is some of his finest work and it made me extra grateful for Rob's gifts, his devotedness to his family and the many ways he has made our life beautiful. Each window was a glimpse into another place in our life; where Emily's mural once was in her nursery...where the sunlight trickles in on an antique tea cart handed down to us from Rob's parents... the window I stare out when the children are not well and I am awake all night... the one that holds a suncatcher Hannah made just for Emily, Tinkerbell, to be exact...such peace each window gave me. Content peace, not just happy, it reminded me how content our family is with our many blessings. Perhaps, not glamorous, but most definitely blessed.

So today, I leave you with this thought...is there a window that needs to be polished in your life? Are you transparent? Or does the dirt and grime of life clog up the view? My prayer for all of us this day is that our windows will sparkle from the inside out!

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me." Psalm 51:10

16 comments:

The Byrd's Nest said...

Oh my friend....what a beautifully written post. I love the way you express your feelings and your love for our Savior. Yes...yes...yes...we should try and clean ourselves up on the inside each day! I love it!

Jodee said...

Welcome back! Sounds like you are keeping busy! Cute pictures of your little ladybugs!

3 Peanuts said...

Oh my friend, Heather...this is really beautiful. I think the inside of our windows (to our soul) always can use some polishing. I love that verse and will pray it all week:)
Hugs to you:)
Kim

Kristy said...

Just beautiful!!!

Miss you BIG!!

Love, Kristy

Half Gaelic, Half Garlic! said...

WELCOME BACK HEATHER:)

I have missed hearing from you and the ladybugs!

As always, such a beautiful and thought provoking post. Yes indeed, there are a few windows in my life could use some polishing. Thank you for the reminder.

BTW, I know you are busy, but I sent you an email awhile ago....not sure if you got it. I would love to have you and the girls come by on November 1st. No purchase necessary....I would just like you to come up for some girly fun. I hope you can make it:)

xoxo,

Lisa

Sharon Sloan said...

Your beautiful heart is reflected so crystal clear herein. God is faithful to refine us and purify us. Windex has nothing on the redemptive love of our Jesus.

The girls look beautiful, as always. Such a pleasure to journey through this life with your family and to rejoice at each new turn.

You shine for Him! :)

Love you,
Sharon

day by day said...

Oh, my...this is soooo well written!! Thank-you!!! Just beautiful...thanks for peeking in from your bloggy break to bless us with it!

p.s....I often find myself on those bloggy breaks lately. : )

Happy Sunday to you!!!

love,
Michele

Michelle R Photography said...

Yet another beautiful post that causes me to give pause and think of the polishing needed in my own life. Only you can bring beauty and thoughtfulness to the most mundane of tasks. I just love you, friend.

Hugs,
Michelle

TanyaLea said...

Beautiful spoken post! Love the closing scripture you posted, too!! <><

Jboo said...

What a thoughtful beautiful post! You are an incredible woman and mother! Thanks for sharing your faith.

Great photos of your two girlies!

Hope you all have a good week!

Janet

The Byrd's Nest said...

Dear God,
I have lost my sweetest friend. I don't know where she is these days...maybe she is busy...maybe she is on fb too much. Please find her and bring her back to me because I miss reading her words that you put on her heart and the beautiful pictures of her family. Amen.

Rachel said...

Hi Heather,

I don't know how else to contact you except through your blog - but, for some reason your little Emily was on my heart the other night, so I prayed for her. I know I don't know you personally, so I thought it kinda strange, but I also thought I should let you know, so that's what I'm doing! Nothing specific, just prayed in general for her health and well-being.

Hope all is going well for you and your family!

Blessings,
Rachel

Unknown said...

Oh Heather...it seems like yesterday that we spoke and Rob had just gotten your new sweet girl. What beautiful girls they are.

I am so pleased to find you again - I will try to not be such a stranger!

Huge Hugs,

Alyson & Paige

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redmaryjanes said...

Beautiful post Heather. I am just in awe of how big Emily is getting. She looks like such a young lady now.

VIOLETA said...

Hello from Romania ,
please read the blog – My heart His words – at archive blog please look at November - Humbled and Convicted-

, my friend Tammy Nischan wrote them the story and some pictures of some hungryes poors kids , what we try to help them for Christmas .Our LORD will be so proud of us if we will do something! Many kids dont have food ,or Christmas tree becouse theu are so poors ! I fight so much to help this kids but i cant alone ~ if anyoane wants to know much more or wish to help in anyway you can please let me know email me at :

tibivio72@yahoo.com
I love you blog,
sweet blessings and MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Violeta

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