“Spring Cleaning”
April is the beginning of the new season. Winter has just ended, the trees are showing their early buds, and the flowers are starting to push their way up through the ground made hard during the winter, but now beginning to soften up because of the "April Showers". The birds will soon be gathering twigs and grass to build their nests, and the heartier folks will start wearing shorts and tee-shirts outside. If you're like Blakely family, I'll soon be climbing up the steps into the attic to pull down the tubs of summer clothes only to repack the tubs with the winter clothes that have been hanging in the closets for the last few months ( and washing load after load of laundry to get rid of the odor that has developed from being packed away for a few months). Then after trying on all the summer clothes I'll have to make a special place in the closet for those clothes I can't wear right now because of the extra layer of padding I added over the winter, but hope to wear again in another month or two. And now it's beginning to be warm enough to walk outside and enjoy the sunshine on those days with sun!
For many households April is also the month to begin spring cleaning. Time to wash windows, plant grass seed, and dig up the old mulch to put down the new mulch. I'll start getting the patio furniture back out of the shed, wiping it down, and touching up the paint on some of the outdoor things that have faded over the last few months. Also time to pull the rugs off the floor and hang them on the line to air them out as well. There is a lot of work to do before we can get ready to enjoy the warmer weather in May.
And while we're doing our spring cleaning around the house, perhaps it's a good time to begin evaluating our spiritual house as well. On April 20th we'll celebrate Easter, Jesus' victory over death. Am I doing what I can to honor His victory and live the life He wants me to live? Have I been reading my Bible and spending time in prayer as I should? Am I sharing my faith in a way that might help others experience a new beginning in their own life? Have I been attending church and staying involved with my spiritual family? Am I honoringGod by sharing my talents ( and my wallet) in accordance with scriptural teaching?
I realize that some people live in an apartment and won't need to worry about all the yardwork. Some of you may have enough closet space so you don't have to swap out the winter clothes for the summer ones. Others have managed to keep your windows clean and your dusting done ( dusting is the one part of the house cleaning that I really hate). but even when the house is clean and shiny, and it smells really nice because you have been opening the windows a while each day and air it out, at some point you will discover something overlooked.
Take care not to overlook the things needed to be done in your spiritual life. While we're all sinners saved by the grace of God through the shed of the blood of Christ, we still need to make every effort to keep our Christian lives clean and shiny.
Everyone have a great April. And, Happy Easter!
Ray
