A Little Taste of Heaven
Posted on: March 5, 2015
- In: Everyday Life | Faith | Family | Parenting
- Comments Off on A Little Taste of Heaven
When March rolls around, we may start thinking about spring cleaning and yard cleanup. After all, by the calendar, spring is just a couple of weeks away. But a glance out my window shows that a few feet of not-yet-melted-snow stand between us and spring.
Still, since we clean our homes regularly, I thought this quote was worth a second look:
I find heaven in the midst of saucepans and brooms.
~ St. Stanislaus Kostka, quoted in “Celebrate March 2015,” Catholic Digest, March 2015
I’m a neat freak who loves trying new foods, and I have a husband and son who are more relaxed about chores and are less-than-adventurous eaters. Heaven isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when I’m cooking and cleaning.
But in always viewing these tasks as just something to get through, we can miss out on a few things:
An attitude of gratitude. Yes, we have dishes to clean, laundry to fold and rugs to vacuum, but that also means we have food to eat, clothes to wear and a place to call home. We can remind ourselves many people only dream of these things, and maybe we’ll also be motivated to support our local food bank or an organization such as the Multifaith Housing Initiative.
A different perspective on our stuff. If we have cupboards full of food but struggle to put meals together or if cleaning takes a long time because we have so many items to vacuum, dust and put away, maybe we need to be more aware of what we buy and why. Maybe we need to see if there are items we don’t use that could benefit someone in need. Pre-move packing or a garage sale for charity can be great incentives for letting things go.
Opportunities to use our gifts. Peeling veggies and scrubbing sinks aren’t glamorous jobs, but preparing meals and doing household chores can be ways of using our gifts to serve others. Maybe one family member has a knack for organization and could get that filing cabinet in order and another loves to cook and would enjoy handling some of the meal prep. Or maybe they could use their skills at a parish church cleanup or during food service at a soup kitchen.
Being grateful for some of the ways God has blessed us, sharing some of our blessings with those in need, using the gifts God has given us to serve others: these acts could bring a little taste of heaven to our lives.
A Catholic Convert in Ottawa 