People and Laundry

Earlier today I prepared a silly post about a beady-eyed buffalo with shaggy dreadlocks and a bizarre midnight game of roadway chicken. However, I will save it for another day because God interrupted my day with an experience that leaves me humbled and at the foot of the throne. I am compelled to tell you what happened.

My family returned home from a weeklong vacation in Yellowstone National Park this past weekend. We arrived home after midnight and fell into bed exhausted. I awoke early the next day expecting to get a jump on the unpacking, mountains of laundry, yard work and a zillion other chores to be completed before we leave again in three days to visit the in-laws.

My husband found me this particular morning with my cup of coffee in hand, sitting at my computer reading through my email. He delicately mentioned that his cousin and very pregnant wife, twins, telephoned and would be stopping by for lunch in a few hours.

It is my nature to freak-out over unexpected visitors especially when the house is a disaster. Let alone the enormous amounts of work ahead and little time to accomplish it all. However, I remained calm (inexplicable, I know) and I did not take my frustration out on my husband which has been known to happen.--Divine intervention--

I ran to the grocery store to buy sandwich fixings for lunch. While standing in the checkout line, I thought to myself, I can do this. It’s only an hour, two at most. There will be plenty of time after lunch to get all of the unpacking done as well as most of the laundry.

My husband’s cousin and his very pregnant wife, twins, arrived. Had it really been five years since we last got together? We sat in the kitchen and chatted, ate lunch, chatted, moved to the family room, and chatted and then…. chatted some more. Six hours later, my husband, and I waved from our driveway as his cousin and very pregnant wife, twins, drove away.

I think I wanted to be angry. I wanted to feel sorry for myself. What an imposition. What inconvenience. Wasted time.

I am a true testament to the patience of our God because He impressed upon me at this moment the words of a prayer I pray often. Lord, make me available to intercept lives that need Jesus.

God spoke to my heart:

Lynn, I am God.

I will use your life to serve my purposes and in my perfect timing. I will not cater to your schedule, but you my child, need to be available for my schedule. Lives are more important than laundry. Relationships with your family are critical as there are many who do not believe in me yet. Their lives rank higher than an unpacked suitcase. Lynn, your obedience to be available is what will change the world.

As I type these words, tears flow. *Gulp* What a lesson! I will never forget it.

Thank you Lord, you use me in spite of my short sightedness and business of my small world. Make me mindful, everyday, of those lives you intend to intersect with mine. Lord, I continue to pray, intersect my life with those who need to see Jesus.
Today, I still have one unpacked suitcase in my bedroom, the dog hair flows across the upswept tile, the ironing awaits but I will NEVER again think of relationships, of people, less than my first and foremost priority because they are God’s first and foremost priority.



Please stop in for a visit at my place: Spiritually Unequal Marriage.