Rest in your blessings!

The last two days I have been on a cleaning frenzy. As wonderful as the holidays were around here, the aftermath was beginning to overtake us. I am feeling the need to simplify my home. A friend told me that each time another child left her home she went through a nesting period. You know, just like we did before they were born. Something about change and the need to get your house in order. I guess that is where I am.


So, as I did a room by room speed clean the last few days, I had time to reflect a little too. I literally shut down all distractions and focused on the task at hand. I left my phone in my room. I turned off the computers and turned on the music. It is amazing what you can get done and how much time you have when you get rid of all distractions. I just scratched the surface of my Operation Simplify but I am off to a good start and we are enjoying a wonderfully clean house.


This morning I was reading in Psalms. My devotion was about blessings amid the storms of life. It made me think about the last few days. As I went through the rooms of my home and cleaned, straightened and threw out; I did what most women do. I redecorated in my head. I made all kinds of plans of how I could change this room and update that one. I switched things around and made a pile of things to give away. I even debated completely redoing our family room with all new furniture. But, then the thought of the tight budget for this year snapped me back to reality.


Last night, Danny and I sat in our den next to the fire and talked about how we could simplify our surroundings. As we talked about each room and what we would change, it dawned on us that we really did not need to change anything. There was something in every room that told a story. Our story. That represented who we are and where we came from. We had the best time talking about our kitchen table that is the same one I grew up on. The table in our den that belonged to a grandmother. The dresser in our bedroom that belonged to another grandmother. The china plates in our dining room that represent generations and memories of great southern cooking. All the things that might not be the proper decorating choice but that represent our blessings. Our past. The good and the not so good.


I love something new as much as anyone. This is our third house since we have been married. But all the stuff has stayed with us. I cannot bring myself to let go of those things. I think that sometimes people think that simplifying and cleaning out gives them a chance to throw out the past. To get rid of the pain. And sometimes that may be the case. But I also think that God uses it all. And our blessings aren't always neat little packages tied up with picture perfect bows. Sometimes the things that represent the hard place or the sad place or the lonely place that we came from are the kind of blessings that remind us how great our God is. The things that remind us how far He has brought us. Remind us how much He has changed us. The things that speak volumes about beauty from ashes.


So, this morning I am counting my blessings. Even the ones that are outdated and not necessarily the show piece that will win a home decorating award. But they remind me that I can rest in my blessings. The ones tied up all pretty and the ones that came disguised in pain and heartache. My home tells a story. Our story of real life and real people and real messes. A story of redemption. Of purpose. Of hope. Of a Love that has carried us to this point. And a Love that will continue to shower us with blessings.

I said to myself, 

"Relax and rest. God has showered you with blessings." 

Psalm 116:7 the message