Where it goes.

With a very Curious George in our house, there is rarely a moment that our house is clean. There is always another spill to wipe up, another book to put away, another load of laundry to do. Always.

This overwhelms me. And frankly, it annoys me. While I wouldn't consider myself a neat-freak, the constant state of messiness (and the fact that the floor I mopped just last night is already sticky again) gets to me.

In the past few days, there's a phrase that keeps coming back to me as I scan my messy house: "Just put it where it goes." For some reason, these six powerful words simplify so much. Everything has a place - or if it doesn't, it should be given away or thrown out - so just put it where it goes. Dirty spoons go in the dishwasher. Books go back on the shelf. Towels go on hooks to dry. Put it where it goes.

At the same time, I've been convicted to put this into practice on a deeper level.

My biggest fear these days is that, by the end of the day, I will run completely out of energy and not get everything done that I absolutely needed to. It may sound ridiculous to you, but to my type-A, people-pleasing, trying-to-hold-everything-together-and-look-good-doing-it mania, it's a real and vibrant fear that feels consuming at times. Because what if I don't send that purse on time? What if I forget to return her call? What if my family eats a crummy dinner because I just couldn't pull it together? What if I have three more paintings to finish tonight but I'm just so exhausted? At it's ugly core, it's a pride issue - the fear of letting someone down, or letting them see me as anything but Superwoman.

So I'm listening to the Spirit and learning to put it where it goes. Put the fear, the anxiety, the heavy burden of pride far from my heart, and cast them onto Jesus.

Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."

That's me! That's so me. I bet it's lots of you, too.

"Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28-29)

What a promise. What a gift.
He beckons us to trade our heavy burdens for his rest. True rest. Soul rest.

So my admonishment to you today: Put it where it goes. Whatever burdens you carry, there's a place for them. Trade them for something you absolutely could not provide for yourself: rest for your souls.