when dirty floors meet grace
When the ladies group ended and I left that night, I had to push down this wild envy that took over my heart. Glistening floors. They had sparkled at me through the meeting and I had to keep pulling my attention back to the subject at hand. Oh, how I desired to have such beautifully clean floors.
I was determined to do a better job at this particular chore. How did they get so dirty anyway? I didn’t even have children!
The next morning, after barn chores, I set to scrubbing. When I was done I felt a measure of satisfaction. Now, just to maintain!
It wasn’t too many minutes later that a knock sounded at the door. An older neighbor was stopping by to see my husband so I invited him in and turned to go back to washing dishes.
“Come in,” my husband said, “have a seat.”
“No, no,” the man answered, “I don’t want to get your wife’s floor dirty.”
I heard myself saying, “Oh, my! Don’t worry about floors. They clean up.” And it dawned on me; this was how my floors got dirty.
Five different men came through my kitchen that morning. None of them took off their big lace-up work boots. All of them drank a cup or two of coffee. They all heard the gospel, right there at my kitchen table while mud and snow dripped off their boots.
My husband’s words painted pictures of a dirty messy cross and my floors were graced with muddy footprints.
One man turned to me as he left, “Sorry about your floors, ma’am.”
I shrugged and smiled, “No big deal. They’re just floors. Made to walk on.” And I believed it.
But later is occurred to me that maybe they were more than that. Maybe my floors were something I could use to extend grace. These men who trudge through mud and muck, working from sun-up to sun-down—don’t they need grace, just as I do? And I can offer it by allowing them to keep their boots on. And maybe, as I am wiping up mud after they are gone, this, for me, is a version of washing feet?
Sometimes I still flush in embarrassment when women are there, when I imagine I see a disapproving glance from the corner of an eye. I want everyone to think that I’m put-together and capable of everything.
But I’m not.
I can’t maintain glistening floors and an atmosphere of grace to the men that my husband is called to share the gospel with.
Maybe someday. But not today.
So for now; I make pots of coffee, offer sugar and creamer and pray unceasingly for the souls at my kitchen table. And my dirty floors don’t cause me to be envious anymore.
I kind of like them, actually.
edited repost
Loved reading this again 🙂
I need the reminder myself at times. 😉
LOVE!
Yes. oh my yes. I love you so much…geekin’ out girl! Thanks for this healthy reminder! I had one of these moments this past Monday when my husband had some men over for a small prayer group. I cleaned house but no longer do I fuss about those things such as the haze of mildew I can’t keep off the bathroom wall because the roof has been leaking ….like forever. Yeah. Thanks.
Ha! i hear you. 🙂 And if my house was perfect all the time, I would miss these awesome blessings like, my friends showing up earlier (before I arrived home from running errands) and setting right into cleaning– washing all my dishes, doing laundry and scrubbing down my bathroom.
Now THEY know how to wash feet. 😉
Wow!! Wow!! Wow!! What a great reminder to all of us. Thanks for sharing!!
I look so forward to reading your posts! You always give me a new way to look at “things”. I especially liked your experience with the little boy and the maple syrup……. Thank You!
So glad, Beth. 🙂
Thanks, Natasha, I now feel a little better about my floors :). I cringe to think my neglect may not be grace related though–I just dislike scrubbing floors.
You always have such a wonderful way of illustrating surrendering in the dailiness of life. Thanks for the inspiration to keep laying it all down–including my floors.
Oh, trust me– mine is not always grace related either! 🙂 But I do think that the ability to overlook dirt can be a gift at times. 😉
Oh I loved this! It is so sweet! Especially the part about “washing feet.”
Love this 🙂 Making me think since I basically force everyone to take shoes off here. I have carpet though so not sure how to scrub those bad boys down but oh I love to think deeply about the choices/rules I make. Thanks for the challenge to pay attention to God in things that sometimes seem so “simple”. Thanks 😀
Oh, carpet makes a difference! 😉
It is definitely a continual journey to be surrendering- making sure we are living grace and not just our personal agendas.
This is beautiful!
Absolutely glorious freedom girl! Thank you for sharing your story… ~Blessings from Maine, Amy
Oh how I have envied other’s clean floors & kitchens… thank you for this beautiful post to help me keep priorities straight.
It’s a daily battle isn’t it?
You are so mature. Maybe, just maybe when I grow up………
Oh, Norma- I just love you.
Thank you so much for this image this morning! I fall so short when it comes to “washing feet.” Your floors help me see where I too might serve others in tangible ways. Hugs!
So glad, Lauren.
p.s. been thinking and praying for you lately. {hugs}
Your writing is a gift, Natasha. Wonderful.
Homes were made to be lived in, a place to welcome others in God’s grace. Your home isn’t the only one with muddy floors covered by grace.
Thanks, Erin.
May your home always be grace-filled.
Thank you for this reminder to strive most for an “atmosphere of grace and washing others feet.” Beautiful.
Yes. An atmosphere of grace. That is exactly it.
Well put. Well done. Eternal priorities…I love that! As usual, great reminders of what is really important! 🙂
Thanks, Peggy!
Love this!
That’s awesome. 🙂 Reminds me of this quote: “Love is the thing that enables a woman to sing while she mops up the floor after her husband has walked across it in his barn boots.”
Oh, love that quote! 🙂
p.s. I have limited internet right now but I wanted to let you know that I got your beautiful email. I will be writing back soon. xxooxx
Me too! 🙂
Okay, thanks for letting me know. 🙂