Cobwebs?

I know it's time to do a deep clean of the house when I look up and see cobwebs surrounding my dining room chandelier. Oh, c'mon, you've had them too at some point, so don't gasp so...(wink)

Here in the Midwest, winter days are commonly dreary and overcast, so much of the dust around here isn't seen until the sun actually shines through the window. (If you live in an area of the country where the winter days are similar, you are nodding your head right now in agreement, right?) A few days ago, the sun did actually shine through the dining room window and I was mortified to see that an industrious spider had wound a web around the entire chandelier! Ok, so I've been a little busy around here...and I just can't bring myself to hire someone to come and clean for me. Seriously, I'd clean before they got here anyway! (Go ahead, it's ok to agree with me.)

The sunshine streaming into the house also reminded me that the windows need washed and the dusting detail has gone by the wayside. But, I also began thinking about why the dust seems to get ahead of me and why a spider was permitted to languish long enough to spin a web in my house. What have I been doing that has prevented me from cleaning industriously?

Let's see...home educating our two daughters, writing for clients, baking, trying to get my website off of the ground, trying to be a good wife, mom, daughter, sister, and friend and everything that goes with that. So, I guess I have been spending my time wisely...? Well, I have to stop and think about that sometimes because I tend to be one of those people who goes and goes and then burns out because I haven't taken the time to rest.

Are you like that? I want so much to do the right things and be everything I think others want me to be that I can sometimes miss the mark entirely. The Lord has been showing me some things in that area of my life. I feel like He is "shining the sun" on those areas of my life that need more attention or less attention. He is lovingly showing me that the people in my life are more important than work...more important than serving myself...more important than dust and a few crumbs on the carpet. I'm trying to listen to His gentle voice...and when I do take the time to hear Him, I am blessed!

Yesterday, the girls completed their school work for the day and then in the afternoon, we baked together. We baked and baked and baked. It was so much fun! We thoroughly enjoyed each others' company and laughed together. I realized how adept my girls are becoming in the kitchen despite the number of things I feel I still need to teach them. They'll be grown up before I know it and a part of me is sad about that. However, another part of me was so proud of them!

Wow, I started with cobwebs and ended up with baking...interesting.

The moral? Let the cobwebs go (at least for a time) and enjoy life. Enjoy your loved ones and enjoy doing those things that bring you and others around you joy. The cobwebs will always be there...but our children and loved ones will not.

My best to you!