Spring Cleaning
June 11, 2019 by Hally Franz
Filed under Daily Devotions, Personal Growth
By Hally Franz –
It’s that time again. Who doesn’t enjoy spring cleaning? I look forward to that first 70-degree day when I’m moved to turn on Jimmy Buffet, open the windows to enjoy the warm air and sunshine, and spend a block of time to get down to some serious cleaning. I’ll dust, vacuum, change sheets, eliminate clutter and clean bathrooms. That’s it, right?
I saw a talk show on the topic of household germs and bacteria, and the well-known host said that her bed sheets were changed every other day. Clean sheets are splendid, but in the real-world they usually get changed weekly. In the real world, sometimes spring cleaning doesn’t happen like it is supposed to. It doesn’t always include washing windows, taking down and cleaning drapes, and organizing all the closets. It may just be music, fresh air and the regular routine.
Even if my deep cleaning doesn’t get done on schedule, I do savor the first-day feel of fresh sheets. They’re tucked in nice and tight before a week’s worth of sleep wrinkles and pulls at them. They have that slick, smooth feel before little bits of grit make their way in, and pillow cases smell nice until morning breath odors attach to them. Clean sheets are one of life’s simple pleasures.
It’s unrealistic for me to think that I will awake every day with the spiritual feelings of being newly baptized. There are days when I am neither excited nor inspired. In the real world, our days cause us to be pulled in lots of directions. We get dirty with the sin that inevitably makes its way into our lives, and we may face situations that really stink. That’s the real world.
However, it is possible for us to become refreshed and renewed each week when we meet on Sundays for a time of study, praise and fellowship. Sunday services always leave me with that “clean sheet feeling” in my soul. The study of scripture and the message from our minister help to smooth the wrinkles in my furrowed brow. I feel washed in the sounds of voices raised in song, and greetings and hugs from church family feel like fragrant, warm breezes.
My usual routine includes a weekly change of my bed sheets and Sunday mornings in worship. While the other chores may wait a season, these are done right on time.
PRAYER: Merciful God, thank You for the opportunity to be refreshed each Sabbath by Your Word, songs of praise and fellowship with other Christians.
“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:22 NIV).
Today’s devotion is by Hally Franz. Hally is a former high school guidance counselor, turned homemaker. Hally sees each day as a new exercise, where routines change and weights vary. Her goal is to maintain all-around fitness for service, while training her children to be competitive, compassionate and Christ-like in the world in which we live.
Hally Franz writes about her observations on family and faith, parenting and people. She is a former high school guidance counselor, turned stay-at-home mom. Hally and husband Tim will celebrate twenty years of marriage this year, and have two teens. She is a 4-H leader and band mom, serves as her church secretary and as a Bible class teacher. Hally enjoys traveling with her family and participating in monthly book club meetings with her pals.
Mmmmmmm Ahhhhhhh! Fresh breeze of spring, fresh wind of Holy Spirit! Thank you, Hally, for making me stop and breathe–and reflect on God’s spring cleaning in me, too.
Thank you, Robin! Your words of encouragement always put a little spring in my step!