It’s been awhile since we’ve broken glass in the “living quarters” of our house . Oh, we’ve broken plenty of canning jars in our basement or the milkhouse, but they weren’t that big of a deal – easy cleanup with a broom & a dust pan on the cement floors. Besides, we normally have our shoes or boots on in those spots & we virtually NEVER are on our hands & knees there…

So, how does it change when the shards land where you LIVE your daily life? Thus began our morning yesterday…

Paul went to get a bird book off a shelf & accidentally knocked over an old glass jar full of antique marbles. Even though I was in a different room, I knew instantly what had happened. On more than one occasion I had thought to myself, “I really should move those marbles…”. But, I hadn’t. I could tell Paul was holding his breath by the complete silence that followed the crash. Then I heard him apologize & kneel to begin picking up the pieces. Here’s the conversation going on in my mind: OLD ME – yell & scold Paul for not being more careful. Then be grumpy & resentful while I clean up & perhaps for hours afterwards… NEW ME – I already KNEW I should have moved that jar – and I KNOW Paul had no evil intention to knock over the marbles. Plus, he was trying to clean up his mess – what I needed to do was walk alongside him & help him pick up the pieces. THANK YOU, LORD! I count this as evidence the Holy Spirit is working in me…such a stark difference from my old ways. 🙂  1Corinthians 10:13 says:  No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.  And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.  I believe I was tempted by my “old ways”, and God provided me with an “escape route” through the TRUTH OF HIS WORD.  Funny, here I am writing about this event that happened 24 hours ago, and just this morning, I was led to this verse – sooo perfect!  I don’t know who said this quote, but I use it a lot:  “It’s not odd, it’s God!”  🙂

So, Paul & I are working together & it eventually gets to the point where I need to complete the task alone – just me & the vacuum cleaner. Even though we have carefully picked up the big pieces, and had used the broom & dust pan for the laminate floor part, I could see glassy powder all around & on the throw rugs. Alone with my thoughts, I began to feel a panic… “How am I EVER going to get this cleaned up enough – little ones crawl in these areas during church and fellowship – what if I miss a spot?? I would feel terrible if a toddler found a shard & got hurt!” I could feel myself being sucked into the pit of believing how inadequate I was & how I should let this circumstance determine my mood… BUT, thankfully, my mind was brought back to safety IN HIM. I’m not working for “man”, I’m working FOR HIM!! All I can do is the best I can with what I’m given. God knows my motivation – HE knows my heart. If I do this for “applause from men”, I will be disappointed, because we are ALL fallen. If I do this FOR HIM, I will NEVER be disappointed.  Colossians 3:23-24 says:  Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are serving.  Even if a little one DOES stumble upon a shard I missed, Jesus will still be walking alongside me, & we will handle it together!  Once that realization set in – that peace that transcends all understanding (Philippians 4:7), this cleanup took on a new look. HE helped me to actually delight in this moment & I must say, I don’t think that area has ever seen such a thorough cleaning from me before, lol!  Thank you, Lord, for placing Your Spirit inside me. Perhaps this is progress in learning to be a Godly mother as the song states – “whose tender patience turmoil never bothers; whose calm & courage, trouble never dims…”

How does the Lord help you clean up broken pieces?