This lovely weather is a blessing, even if it’s temporary. I do not look at weather forecasts, though people often choose to tell me what’s expected in coming days. I prefer to look out the window, or, at the most, check the temperature my computer shows me for Fort Thomas so I’ll dress appropriately.
Today is beautiful, though occasionally overcast, and the inside of my house is again a wreck. I had no idea I had so much furniture in my kitchen! Table and chairs, of course, but also my treasured Hoosier cabinet and the rocking chair my great-grandmother rocked my grandfather in. Then the children’s table and chairs, a file cabinet, magazine rack, desk chair, guest book table, green plants, braided rug.
I hadn’t given much thought to getting out our daily vitamins and meds, snack foods, lunch items to go to the downstairs refrigerator, eating utensils, Brita pitcher—the list goes on and on.
When I contracted in February to have my kitchen floors refinished, I had no idea what was involved. Certainly I asked questions and received answers, but I don’t always know the right questions to ask.
For example, I asked how long the process would take and was told three days, starting on Monday. Perfect. I have our mothers’ Bible study on Thursday mornings.
And we’re having relatives stay overnight on Thursday. Whew! I thought. This will work out well.
But no. Turns out it’s a three-day job for them. We aren’t allowed to walk on it until Thursday night, and no furniture on it until Friday night. No area rug for ten days. What? I am dismayed.
But I want the job done properly—no shortcuts, no messing up the finish. After all, the first perfect finish we walked on, slid on, played on, cooked on for twenty years. I want this one to hold up that long, at least.
So my blessed friend Laura is willing to host Bible study at her house—no small matter with nine or ten preschoolers in her basement for an hour and a half.
We know our relatives will understand. They’ve done lots of remodeling and redecorating over the years, though certainly not while we were scheduled to visit. It’s not as though we didn’t know they were coming. We invited them over a month ago. Knowing they are grace-filled people is comforting. And how kind of us to treat them to both dinner and breakfast out!
Makes me realize how I think renewing my spiritual life is all planned out—Bible study time, prayer time, everything on schedule. But it’s not. Things interfere. My priorities get messed up. Every day I pray that God’s priorities will be mine—when I make time to pray quietly and alone.
I was better about it when I was working every day, because I knew I had to get to bed on time in order to get up early enough to meet with God. Now I think I have plenty of time and don’t always get around to giving him the time I intend to give.
So who am I to complain that the floor refinishers didn’t give me full information from the beginning? I have the full information from God and don’t necessarily use it.
Just as we have to ease back onto our lovely oak floors, sock feet only, I can ease back into my time with God. Oh, yes, all those quick, urgent prayers I get to, for I keep that list beside my computer. It’s the waiting, quiet time I’m neglecting. Today I made it. Maybe I can get back in the groove if I just take it one day at a time. As Coach Shields used to say, “Yard by yard, it’s very hard. Inch by inch, it’s a cinch.” Not scripture, but good to remember.
And from Martin Luther King, Jr.: “You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”
And not to forget my theme verse for 2006: “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:2.)
Yes! I’ve been looking down at the floor too long. I need to set my sight on higher ground. As I look out to see what the weather is, I can look up to God who made it. He made all this for me; I can certainly make time for him.
