“The RoseBouquet”

We should not compare others against our own standards and judge them in a negative way, but that comes very naturally to us. It takes a deliberate struggle to think respectfully of other’s ways and means of doing things.

Several real life instances have brought this together for me in a clearer way recently.

When cleaning up my Dad’s estate last year we came across many things that my brother and I saw differently. Ernie thought most it was junk and would not sell at the auction. To a large degree he was right. It didn’t, but as I continued the clean up by myself, I kept coming across things that I knew Dad had saved for when it might be needed. Some of them I recognized as things I would very likely need as I moved into a house of my own, so I claimed a number of them. Already some have proved very useful, including some tools and scrap lumber, and small rolls of carpeting.

Much as I’d like a spotless and attractively arranged home, I’ve resigned myself to the space problem. I do intend to dispose of some things, but when people come to see my home, if they don’t come out and say so, I can sense that they think I’m squirreling away stuff they would throw out. I have to work at forgiving them because they do not think in the resourceful way that Dad and I think. Some of those things will be turned into very useful things yet. Even gifts.

I confess, I have been in some homes, which struck me as hopelessly messy, and in need of a major cleaning - and carrying out. In fact, when I used to go north to visit my sister Elsie and babysit her children, I would try to tidy up and do it carefully so I wouldn’t lose for her anything she might be looking for.

There is a time factor to take into consideration too. When I had less career type duties, I would spend more time on cleaning up and keeping a place neat. Now I am finding that I have to give myself grace for times when I simply cannot take the time to clean because things of greater urgency have priority.

Last Sunday, because of major work that has to be done on the basement in church, the Resource Room that I have been looking after has to be moved and that quickly. Our new Sunday School Superintendent came into the room and said, “Everything on that side of the room looks like junk to me. It has to go.” It caught me off guard, although I tried to be polite about it, and suggested a plan to offer it in a Give-Away before it goes to the garbage. However, I confess it was a cut for I thought that stuff was resources for creative teaching sessions. Not everyone sees things the way I do.

In the next hour, a guest preacher spoke on how we should not compare others against ourselves. I knew that was true, but I didn’t see a clear application to that Resource Room situation, except to let go. It’s not really mine after all. (Of course, letting go thoughts can lead to other thoughts).

I’m concluding that perhaps I’m a messy person after all, and that instead of thinking of myself as superior to others who are worse, I need to accept the title and wear it without blushing. I also need to forgive those who compare my areas of housecleaning with their lovely show-homes and look down on me. Just because they are disobeying a Scriptural injunction, doesn’t mean I should return the attitude. Instead, I’m taking my first step in learning to defend my position - I am just managing creative resources, and I am fairly well stocked.

People used to come to Dad to fix things. He was able to do that because he had the right stuff on hand. I’m standing on his ground. Leave my resources alone, thank you!