My Cottage

Several weeks ago my two younger daughters and I sat at breakfast one morning, and commented on the fact that this particular breakfast was a "cottage" sort of breakfast; hearty and simple, but not without a touch of elegance. Having said that, we took off on an imaginary flight of fancy and "built" our little cottage in the country. Mine had dark wood floors, a sweet (and neatly made-up!) iron bedstead, and a half door which often stood open to catch the airs wafting from the countryside carrying the fragrances of the herb and flower garden just outside.

Now don't get me wrong. We love our house here--in fact, we've often laughed over the fact that having painted it in the way we did when it was built, we love it so much that we cannot imagine it any other colors. I really am blessed to have my dream house! So it's not discontent that caused us to take our moments together at breakfast to fancifully build our cottage.

Probably it was more the idea of the thing--sort of like having your own fairytale, where you are the good and wise prince or princess of your own domain, independently wealthy and able to do many of the things you are really unable to do in reality.

But that little bit of imagination has become a tool in my sanctification toolbox!

Be it known that I am not a good housekeeper. In my mind there are at least forty things that would be better and more enjoyable uses of my time than housekeeping. However, I do like a clean house. Certainly it is good for my family, but it also benefits me: my mind is clearer and less burdened, my attitude happier and more content, and I am freer to do those other things which I would rather do. So I am always looking for ways to "trick" myself into doing a better job of housekeeping.

Even though I love my house, I have been living here for several years now. My human nature has turned what used to be exciting and new into that which I do not appreciate as much simply from familiarity. I don't see the clutter as well, or the dirt (unless someone shows up at the door unexpectedly--isn't it amazing how that will make all the smudges, smears, clutter and dustbunnies jump to attention?). I've learned to live with some of the less efficient and therefore messier ways of doing things that need just a little change.

If you've ever been blessed to have a new house, either by moving or building, you may recognize that for awhile you see it differently than your old living quarters. It is clean and new. Everything seems to sparkle a bit.  You notice when a little dust or clutter accumulates, and you are motivated to dust it or pick it up to keep the "new" feeling. But after a time: maybe a few weeks, or months, or even years, the sparkly new feeling kind of wears off. Someone in the family may get the flu or a busy season will hit at work, and a little dust doesn't get dusted and few items don't get picked up. You promise yourself you'll deal with it soon--but "soon" is corrupted by the tyranny of the urgent, and the problem snowballs. Maybe you are a great housekeeper and this never happens to you, but still, you notice that you don't perceive your house or apartment the same way you did when it was new.

That morning at breakfast, the idea of the cottage really took root in my mind. For a few days I enjoyed mentally furnishing it and imagining a different, more earthy and carefree life in it. And then one day shortly afterwards as I was driving home from work, I realized that imagining my house AS that cottage gave me a new perspective on the housekeeping. Again I felt the motivation of keeping it "new " and neat as a pin. And when I arrived home I channeled that energy into just a few moments of extra housekeeping before collapsing from my workday. The next day I did it again. Having my little cottage in order was an idea that gave me a delicious sense of delight and peace.

I haven't kept this up everyday, but the results can be seen in my house and yard. Slowly things are looking better. I don’t promise that it will continue to improve, and I'm fairly certain that my personality will not change completely and turn me into a neatfreak, more's the pity.

Thinky Things

I don't want to over-spiritualize this little mental game I play, but I think it parallels our sanctification close enough that we can learn something from it about ourselves and about God.

So here are some thoughts:

1. Imagination is often denigrated by Christians, but has such potential for good purpose by God. He created us with imagination, after all!

2. Cooperating with God in our sanctification means using every tool He offers us. If it is the imagination of a sweet little cottage in the country to encourage us to redeem the time and bless our families with better housekeeping, we should use it, and thank Him for providing it.

3. The happiest news about sanctification is that it is not all up to us! God says HE will be faithful to complete the work He began in us. So we cannot fail! Who wouldn't be willing to cooperate in a venture if they knew for a fact that they could not fail to have success?!?!

4. What does YOUR cottage look like? Is it a cottage, or a grand manor? Perhaps it is something entirely different? I'd love to hear your flight of fancy!

5. Have you some tools in your sanctification toolbox that could benefit others by sharing them here? We'd love to hear them. 

To those tools and the good use of imagination...HOLD FAST