This week we were given the opportunity to do the weekly cleaning at church. Poppa had to work so I took all the kids and we drove over. They all seemed so excited to get to clean there that I was sure they didn’t really know what we were going to have to do.
With Matthew on my back in the Ergo, I assigned each one of my kiddos a job and off they went. Nick and Eddie were assigned the men’s bathroom as well as a few things that only big strong, tallish boys can do. Erica and Veronica were likewise assigned the women’s bathroom as well as all the windowsills inside the church. When they finished there, they knocked down all the cobwebs in the entrance area to the church. John-Paul was given all the doors, which are ivory colored, to clean from top to bottom as well as any scuffs he might find on walls. Christopher went off happily with broom in hand to sweep all the sidewalks and corridors outside and Olivia danced around with a feather duster and dusted every statue, pew and column she could reach.
I got busy vacuuming the inside of the church from the back of the church to the very front and all the seats. As I did my little vacuum walk, moving side to side, Matthew fell asleep and took a long 2 hour nap. When I finally finished I sat in a pew soaking in the beautiful light coming in through the stained glass windows and the wonderful silence of being there pretty much alone with my Lord. I asked for so many things. I prayed for those who were in my heart and I thought about where we have been and how far we have come.
In that moment, I remembered all my beautiful children who were probably out there doing who knows what. Imagine my surprise to find they all did their jobs perfectly and even more than that they were smiling and happy. They all asked if we could come back next week to do it again. I inspected their jobs and they were all done well. I myself felt so full of happiness and joy, oh the joy. I am not the best house keeper, and I find it hard to find the pleasure in the mundane day to day when I could be doing something else that feeds my soul like sewing or knitting. I asked Our Lady to help me feel the same joy in my own home. The same joy I found this day while cleaning his house.
I hope to see you here tomorrow for this weeks giveaway! See you then.
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I love that you actually took photographs. My family cleaned our church weekly when I was in high school. I never felt that it was boring or annoying like cleaning my mom's house could be for me at that age. I loved dusting the shelves on the altar, vacuuming the sanctuary, dusting Our Lady's statue. It was so peaceful and prayerful.
Also, thank you for your beautiful example of appropriate attire in God's house even when cleaning it.
Emily, I was not sure but asked permission before I took pics. I wanted to remember it so I took pics 🙂 Really, it is so much more enjoyable than cleaning our own homes but also there is no clutter.
Beautiful!
That was such a touching post! 🙂 Thanks for the inspiration, I needed it today.
I pray for the same thing! What a blessing that your xhildren got to be a part of the "big picture" of caring for the Lord's house!
Such reverence and beauty! Thanks so much for sharing your heart today!