I don't know if you can tell or not, but… we have kids. They leave their mark on everything. I've got coffee on the ceiling.
There's that graffiti on the carpet in my closet.
And the green pen marks in my Bible.
If you were to investigate my van (Although, why would you? We don't have room for you, anyway.) you'd find the children have marked the ceiling in there, too.
And the floor.
Speaking of floors, I'm about to do the unthinkable and show you my dining room floor… on a good day.
I'm sure you can just imagine the smudges on the windows, the finger (and nose) prints on every pane of glass at knee-cap height. There can be no doubt that we've got kids. In spades.
They leave their imprint in their wake. They invade every single space in our lives, including the bathroom. They define our moments, our days, and our vision for our family's future. Our kids are literally everywhere. And I believe there's beauty in that mess of theirs.
Just like our home bears the marks of those who live here, I bear the fingerprints of the One who dwells in me. He is the potter and I am the clay. Daily He refines me. It's messy work. There's mud involved. Shaping, re-shaping… and fingerprints.
I spin wildly on His wheel, dirty and lumpy, molded beneath the hands of The Artist. He smudges me… and calls it beautiful.
These tiny little imperfect people (plus my baby) are the most important smudges I will leave on this world.
I want Jesus to be in these little imprints I leave behind. I want Him to be the smudge in my touch. I want the fingerprints I make each day to bring My Potter glory. I want people to look at me, smudges and all, and say, "Jesus lives there."
Because He does. He just doesn't spill coffee on the ceiling.
This was originally posted on www.vitafamiliae.com.
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Timely reposting here! My 18 month old just discovered that pens, pencils, and crayons actually *gasp* DO something. We've already had several wall incidents, and my dresser has purple marker on it now. We LIVE here. I think in some ways a lived in home is more welcoming to people. More real.
This is currently my favorite post! INCREDIBLE! I tear up when I read it and am reminded of the high calling of my job as a wife and mother. Thanks for putting things back in perspective on the days that we are spinning out of control.
I love this post. Thanks for a fresh perspective.
thanks LL! such a wonderful reminder of the work the Lord is doing in my life and in the lives of my sweeties! blessings, jen in al