My heart is a cozy little cottage that sometimes needs a good housekeeper

 

I like to imagine that my heart is a little house.  Maybe even a quaint cottage.  It has a stone fireplace with two high back, gingham print chairs angled in front.  There is a perpetual stack of fire wood at the side and a bottomless  mug of hot chocolate on the little reading table between the chairs with a never ending supply of gooey chocolate chip cookies.  It’ s not heart shaped, nor is it cluttered with arteries, it’s just a simple cottage filled with cherished items.

Everyone once in a while I try to decorate with something new.  I add a picture or a vase, or sometimes I switch the brand of hot chocolate, or add different cookies.  I want to take good care of my little cottage.  I want to keep it pretty and clean, but there are times it becomes cluttered with stuff.  Silly things that don’t go with my decorating style.  Stupid items that sit there and collect dust.  Ugly pieces that diminish the original beauty.

When that happens I have a choice to make.  I can either change my ideals of what my cozy cottage should look like and settle for second rate, or I can roll up my sleeves and put forth some effort into a tidy up.

The dust of my lazy attitude is wiped clean.  The muddy tracks on the floor from impurities are mopped up.  The cluttered pieces along the mantle from lack of discernment are trashed.

When a guest tries to replace my cookies with a low fat version of the real kind, they are (eventually) asked to leave.  I want the good stuff, not the sugar free knock offs.

I have a gatekeeper who watches over my heart and guards the door from impostors and evil doers, but I have on occasion vetoed his power and allowed something/someone inside who didn’t belong. That never goes as planned.  Something gets broken, feelings are hurt…

It’s not always easy to see the dirt.  After the first layer I become accustomed to it, and before long enough grime has built up it’s hard to remember what  a clean house looks like.

When my heart becomes too cluttered and dirty I call in the housekeeper.  This isn’t easy.  I’m embarrassed that I’ve allowed things to get so bad.  Mud on the furniture?  Dingy windows?  Diet cookies?  It’s hard to admit I’ve made such poor choices, and need help, but it’s worth it in the end.  How can I see the incredible view if the windows are covered in filth?  How can I enjoy the fireplace when there isn’t any wood to burn?

I want my heart to stay clean.  I want my little cottage to reflect who I am.  You never know who may pop in for a visit! So I try to be more careful with my visitors and who I give the key away to.  I remind myself I want only the finest chocolate and I listen to my gatekeeper.  He is wise.  But most importantly, when it needs to be cleaned, I call in my housekeeper and watch as He polishes everything to a shine.

 

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