When My Bathroom Is Cleaner Than My Heart…

“For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance,
but the Lord looks on the heart.”  I Samuel 16:7

Have you ever been tricked by something that looked really nice…and it wasn’t?

…a cute little puppy that practically bit your hand off?

…a piece of chocolate that turned out to be 90% cacao?

…the turkey in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation?”

So many things can have it all together on the outside, and on the inside it’s a total mess.  Or angry.  Or disgusting.

This is starting to sound more and more like my heart.

I love for things to have the appearance of order and peace, which means that I spend a lot of time and energy trying to create that appearance.

I like for my garden to be as weed-free as possible.  I want my bathrooms to not smell like my two little boys have terrible aim.  I want my kids’ toys to never be seen be organized in some cute, Pinterest-y way.

All of those things – beneficial as they are – are not the main thing.  In fact, if and when I make them my “main thing”, that is when all joy escapes me and I become what Jesus referred to as “a white-washed tomb.”  Pristine on the outside – dead on the inside.

The Lord sees it instantly.  His daughter, whom He washed and cleaned with His own blood, who at one time was satisfied in the name He had given her, has turned elsewhere for significance.  The appearance and success of her home and family have consumed her mind and actions, and she has forgotten her First Love.  Joy has turned into striving.

And my kids eventually see it, too.  Their mommy, who used to sing while she cooked and took her time dressing them and brushing their teeth, now makes a loud “sigh” when they ask if they can help stir.  She tells them to brush their teeth on their own because she is in a hurry.  She is frustrated when their “bad aim” makes little puddles on the bathroom floor.  Joy has turned into striving.

At that point, it is time for a cleaning.  A true cleaning.  Because as beautiful as my house may be, my heart is ugly. 

And praise be to our Father, who’s mercies and heart cleanings are new every morning!  He has not and will not leave me to my own devices.  He has well-armed me for “white-washed tomb days” such as those…with His Spirit and with Scripture.

So here is where I turn when I need to step into the shower of His grace – when I need to be reminded that He doesn’t want my sparkling toilets, He wants my heart:

I Corinthians 13:1-7

You all know this passage…the Love Verses.

1.  If I speak of the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
2.  And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3.  If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4.  Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant
5.  or rude.  It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
6.  it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
7.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

What I like to do in this passage, and several passages throughout Scripture for that matter, is read it so that whatever issue I’m facing or sin I’m dealing with is met square in the face by God’s Word.

I Corinthians 13:1-7 – For Mommies

1.  If I have an arsenal of Bible verses memorized for the purpose of instantly correcting every one of my child’s naughty behaviors…but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
2.  And if I have the cleanest toilets in the city, and the most scheduled baby on the block, and if I have all of my meals planned through 2018…but have not love, I am nothing.
3.  If I give every ounce of my energy to my children, and if I deliver up my body to be torn apart by delivering a child…but have not love, I gain nothing.
4.  Love is patient and kind (even when my body is weak with fatigue); love does not envy or boast (in my parenting “successes”); it is not arrogant
5.  or rude (when I think I am right).  It does not insist on its own way (even though I think I deserve a break); it is not irritable or resentful (because I was up all night “fixing” things);
6.  it does not rejoice at wrongdoing (even when my child’s sin is “cute”), but rejoices with the truth (because the truth is what frees us).
7.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Be encouraged fellow mommas!  Our life is not measured by the appearance of our home and the taste of our meals!   Rather, our significance has already been handed to us – thus ends the striving.

With our feet planted firmly on the Rock and our eyes fixed steadily on our Savior, we can have hearts filled with joy.

Our Lord will see it, and our husbands and children will know it.

Header photo by: Erin

Lauren Souers

Hi, my name is Lauren. I am the wife of a hardworking man and the momma of five precious children – three boys and two princesses! I love them so much. I spend most of my day homeschooling, cooking, and playing outside, and it’s really fun to write about. I hope you leave here full of hope that “tired” can be good.