Dirty Drawers and Thankless Hearts

18,586.

That’s how many steps I got today.  Some of them were from hiking at Radnor with Ginger.  The last several were walking up to Edley’s for dinner with Bill.  Two delightful bookends of worthy walking. 

Then there were all the steps in between.

I love when everything is all clean.

You see, the rest of the day I was cleaning.  I went up and down the stairs a good 27 times.  I changed air filters and light bulbs, I cleaned toilets, washed, dried, and replaced sheets on three beds, bundled up some clothes and towels for donation, wiped sinks, and vacuumed as well.  I usually let my girls clean their own bathroom, but since we are having company next week, I decided I’d give it some attention.

While I was cleaning Abbey’s sink, I noticed it wasn’t draining well, so I snaked the drain and pulled out large amounts of wet, rotting, hairballs.  It was disgusting work, but very effective.  Now the sink drains much better! 

All over the counter were toiletries and brushes and toothpaste galore.  I decided to put some of it away.  That’s when I made the mistake of opening a drawer.  One drawer led to another and I was horrified at the mess.  These girls had trash in their drawers.  I’m not just saying there were old toothbrushes in there and broken jewelry or discarded McDonalds toys, (there were all of those things), but there was ACTUAL TRASH in there too: used floss, empty toothpaste tubes, a cracked lotion bottle, used tissues, half a ziplock bag, used cotton balls, wrinkled papers, and tags off of new clothes.  Apparently, when one is standing in their bathroom, the act of turning 180 degrees and stepping approximately 2.5 steps to the trashcan is too hard for these children.  Why use a trashcan when you can easily just leave your trash in a drawer?  (I think I shall try this tactic in the kitchen.) 

Anyway, I was a tad miffed by the ridiculous drawers, but I like to organize, so I kind of got into it.  I salvaged anything useful and dumped all the trash.  Then, I carefully wiped out all the drawers and put their things neatly away in their own separate spaces.  I paid careful attention to which side I put Lexi’s stuff on because she’s left handed.  I thoughtfully placed Abbey’s facewash and make-up where she could easily reach it.  I did the same thing with their cabinets and then cleaned the entire bathroom.

I had washed and dried their towels, so I hung those up and stood back to admire all my hard work.  I was kind of excited for them to see it.  The drawers looked so different!  Everything looked so clean!  I was sure they’d notice. 

So, when it was time for them to get ready for bed, I hung around—sort of waiting to hear.  Now, to be clear, I was NOT expecting anyone to walk out and say, “wow, mom, this must have taken you forever, thank you for pulling clumps of hair from my drain with your bare hands and organizing all my stuff so thoughtfully.”  Oh please, I am not a crazy person.  I knew they would never thank me unless they were prompted or struck my lighting. 

I wasn’t hanging around to get thanks.  I was just thinking I’d hear when they noticed how different everything was.  (Or at least a complaint like: where is that old McDonalds toy covered in toothpaste!?)

I heard the sink come on and the first drawer being opened.  No one said anything.  Toothpaste was retrieved and put back as normal.  Still no notice.  Hands and faces were washed, items were taken out (and not put back) and trash was left on the counter—not even hidden in the drawers!

I have to admit I was sad.  I did want them to notice and say SOMETHING—even a “What happened?  Who did this?”  Kind of exclamation would have been fun.  But, to go about their business as if I hadn’t just spent 2 hours cleaning and organizing their bathroom?!  Come on! 

As I was feeling sorry for myself, I wondered if this is how God feels.  I mean, he makes all these amazing, glorious things for us to see and enjoy.  Maybe he painted the morning sky your favorite shade this morning.  Maybe he carefully selected the notes the birds would be singing as you stepped outside.  Maybe he thoughtfully placed every purple flower just for you to see.  But we go around like business as usual.

We don’t say “thank you.”  We don’t say anything at all.  We don’t notice.

This thought gave me pause.  I began to thank Him for dying so that all my sins could be washed away (like the disgusting hairballs I pulled from the drain).  And for all the beauty and all the things I could tell he thoughtfully placed in my day today. 

However, God and I are different.  (Obviously! And in multiple ways!) You see, where I was wanting just a little recognition, a word that made me think they had cared, or any inkling that they were grateful, God doesn’t need any of that.

He’s not mad when we don’t pour out our ‘thank yous’.  He doesn’t need us.  He creates because he loves it.  He cares for us because he wants to.  He’s not sitting around all hurt when we forget to express thanks.

Do you know who IS hurt by forgetting to say thank you? 

We are. 

By not giving thanks, we affect our relationship with the Lord.  By not acknowledging him, we are robbing ourselves of the sweet intimacy that comes with humble gratitude. 

When we say “thank you,” we enter into a conversation with the creator of the universe who also happens to be the Lover of our souls.  He thoughtfully provides for us and faithfully speaks to us through His word and His works.  

Maybe it’s difficult to see His love for you, but if we look to the cross where His son died for us, we realize that gift alone is all we have ever needed.  His tortuous death, burial, and resurrection restored relationship with God and tore the veil so that we may enter into His presence.  That was the gift to top all gifts.  There is absolutely nothing else we require (and nothing else we should desire).  However, Jesus also cleans out our trashy hearts and brings order and peace and beauty.  He thoughtfully blesses us with sunshine and rain and flowers and delicious food and beautiful music. 

Then, He remains near by—not to demand that we give thanks, but to be available when we finally open our eyes to the work He has done.  He stands ready to receive the much-deserved praise felt and expressed by a heart rightly related to Him.