I found myself cleaning up the messiest of messes the other day. The type of dirtiness that requires rubber gloves and a pinched nose. It wasn’t my mess. In fact, I have no idea who made the mess, but someone did, and they left it for another somebody to clean up. That “lucky” somebody happened to be me – Oh, joy.
I was irritated. More than disgusted. Wondering who would do such a thing and how in the world I got stuck with clean up duty. Before long I began to realize I had, in fact, been chosen for that degrading task. Yes, you heard me right… chosen. God had a message for me and He used a stranger’s atrocity to draw my attention to it.
He reminded me that we’re all guilty of this from time to time. No, not the exact type of mess this person left behind. But those sticky situation type of messes caused by careless words, angry remarks, or bad attitudes. We spew them out and there they are, hanging in the air, waiting on someone else to wipe away their nastiness. Ouch.
And to think God may be as irritated and disgusted with my ugliness as I sometimes am with that of others. Another ouch.
Yet He is swift to extend grace, forgiveness, and unconditional love. Am I as quick to do so? Ouch again.
Friends, does this call to mind any debris you’ve left on the path behind you? Do you need to retrace your steps and tidy up a few things along the way?
Or perhaps it’s chaos pushed onto you by another. If so, it may be a good time to practice forgiveness and show love to that person — that unconditional kind of love God has shown to you.
Whatever the case may be, wouldn’t it be wonderful to live in such a way as to keep your messes to a minimum? It would make life so much more peaceful, and clean up so much easier.
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18
Loved this! I needed to read this today. This happens to be a huge goal I have for myself. Thank you. Love you.
Heather, I’m so glad this spoke to you today!