Keeping Up Appearances

Suddenly I notice how the house looks–the books and drawings covering every surface, pens, pencils, crayons strewn across the tables and on the floor. Dirty dishes in the sink, dirty sink underneath.

Suddenly I remember that I have no clean shirts because I have been too busy painting and playing with the kids to do laundry. I notice that I didn’t vacuum this week and I could use a haircut.

After spending an evening on a cleaning spree I remember something–this is my little brother. He knows me better than most people–except for my husband. He knows that I am a messy, that I have three kids and they are a handful–he used to help keep the place clean when he lived here.

What am I trying to prove? There are no appearances to keep up–especially when he is only going to be here for a few hours before heading to the wedding he is here for and then back to Florida where he resides. I catch myself trying to prove I am better than I was, to show that I have changed. That’s not my job–that’s up to God. Only He can make a lasting difference in my life regardless of my appearance.

The search for recognition hinders faith. We cannot believe so long as we are concerned with

the “image” we present to others. When we think in terms of “roles” for ourselves and others,

instead of simply doing the task given us to do,we are thinking as the world thinks, not as God

thinks. The thought of Jesus was always and only for the Father. He did what He saw the Father do.

He spoke what He heard the Father say. His will was submitted to the Father’s will.“You have no love for God in you,” He said to the Pharisees. “I have come accredited by my Father,

and you have no welcome for me….How can you have faith so long as you receive honor from one

another, and care nothing for the honor that comes from him who alone is God?” (Jn 5:42-44 NEB).–Elisabeth Elliot

Who are you trying to impress? There is only one person who matters, and He knows you to the very tips of your toes through and through, because He created you and knows your innermost thoughts.

Father, You alone know us better than anyone else. Lord help us to remember that the only one we have to impress is You.

Note: There are several things I need to mention here–my brother, as well as the rest of my family, claim to believe but do not live for Him. I do not see my brother often and try to be a good witness when I see him. The problem is I forget that God is making the changes and not me. My cleaning spree was trying to adjust the outward things to look like the changes I see inside. It is up to God to show those changes–not me. In my case, my brother is a clean freak and focuses on the outward things–having the best of everything, keeping everything meticulously neat, and he doesn’t understand that the inward things are what matter to God. Please be praying for him–every visit shows just how much more bitter and self centered he is becoming–he needs the joy of Christ, as does the rest of my family. The last time I saw him was three months ago and I was shocked to notice how much more bitter he has become in that short time.

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