A GLORIOUS MESS


Having a huge streak of OCD right through the middle of my id—I love a clean-neat and orderly house.  Everything has a place—and therefore belongs in its place.  There is not one thing wrong with neatness and order—except it comes at a price.
When the grands come over, we play—we pull out almost every toy in the house, and then we pull out those things not meant as toys—but fun to play with.  There is a carpet of little people, cars, blocks, toy guns, puzzles, and various other forms of amusement from the front door to the back. There are half full glasses, dirty plates, and ground in food on the floor.   It is a MESS!  A HUGE GLORIOUS MESS!

It will all get picked up and cleaned up, when I am once again here alone.  But quiet and neatness come at a price.  The cost is missing all the fun!  I laugh, I tickle, I wrestle, and I just play with those little wonders.  We go to the park, we walk around the block, we play with trucks in the yard, and we live in every square inch of my bungalow. 

One of my friends told me my home looked “lived in” and “comfortable”.  I took it as a huge compliment.  Anyone can have a show place—a museum—or perhaps the best description is a mausoleum.  I prefer a home—where you are free to live and live not richly—but abundantly.  My home is not sacred, but my relationship with those entering my home is.  It is frequently a glorious mess.

So goes my relationship with The Lord.  It is a glorious mess at times.  I laugh at the messes He allows me to make in my life, I cringe thinking of how He has allowed me to question Him, and I turn away in embarrassment thinking of the choices He has allowed me to make.  He has allowed me to make a royal mess of things more times than I care to remember.  Still He stays with me—in the midst of the mess—He is right here with me.  He takes that mess—He wipes it all clean—and loves me in spite of the mess my life can be.  In spite of it all, He loves me and my glorious mess---PRAISE HIM!

For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.
Isaiah 41:13


14 comments

  1. Hey---how'ed you get that picture of my sons room? (lol and teasing--it is not that bad)---we also have a lived in feel--my husband has family who refuse to visit, they say, "don't touch" look. Really....people....is what I want to say. Get a grip. I have never ever told anyone no and raised my son the way my mother did us, never put anything away, glass, baubles etc. A house should be lived in and not like a museum, just saying..... ANYWAYS---Another great post Lulu, thank you. Have a Blessed Friday.

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    1. Sisters in our mess! You have a good Friday, Friend, as well!
      Blessings!

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  2. HE does love us! You'll be amazed at how much at the first meeting. His love is overwhelming, beautiful, magnificent. We won't need anyone or anything else. HE is everything.
    My step-mom had a mausoleum house. I wasn't allowed to touch or sit on just about anything. I'm rebelling against that way of thinking so my house looks "lived in" too. *lol* I'm much happier that way. ~:)

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    1. Time enough for those mausoleums later- for now we are busy living!
      Blessings, Sparky

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  3. What a glorious replica (the messy room) of our lives before God Himself. I stand amazed at how you take a simple illustration and make it so very meaningful as we consider our "fallen condition" and God's willingness to take us just as we are.. Thank you for such comfort.

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    1. As my sweet friend often tells me, "We are all a mess at best"! I am reminded of that truth quite frequently!
      Blessings!

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  4. Love this! I also would love a nice, uncluttered house (and life), but I have never achieved that -- always afraid if I took the time to get completely organized I would miss something really important and fun! Sometimes this has gotten me in a mess, but everything eventually was found and turned out okay. Your grands will remember the good times and love from you and will appreciate it much more than remembering your house was sanitized and pristine. I know this because my kids and their cousins remember the fun times at my mothers and talk of and laugh joyously remembering those times often. They never speak of my MIL's house where they were not allowed to touch, mess up or make noise.

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    1. Oh, my home is neat and tidy at times-and bores me to tears during those times! Praying I am "making memories" with my precious grands!

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  5. Thank you for making happy memories for your grand-children. They will appreciate it as they grow up.

    Speaking of a mess: Before we go out we usually tip over all the chairs. Throw cushions on the floor as well as pictures from the walls. We empty all drawers on the floor and generally make a mess of the whole house. That way, if a burglar comes in he'll look round and think we've already been burgled. So he'll leave us alone.

    The other week we came back from a shopping trip and spent an hour tidying up. Then we realised we'd forgotten to get some milk. So we made a mess all over again before going out.

    God bless.

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    1. Victor, you always leave me with a chuckle!
      Bless You, Friend!

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  7. Yeah ... there'll be time to clean and organize later. For now, let's get right down on the ground and enjoy these little ones we've been blessed with.

    Just like God enjoys our company, too ...

    Blessings this weekend to ya', Lulu ...

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    1. They grow up so fast, Linda. The oldest is now 15 and reached the age of "Too Busy". Time is short to make those memories!
      Blessings to You, Friend!

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  8. Great post and yes we are all screwups... Thank goodness the master carpenter is willing and able to fix us...

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Your comments keep my writing and often cause me to think. A written form of a hug or a pat on the back and an occasional slap into reality---I treasure them all!