Confessions in Cleaning

I've been pretty excited about my list of accomplishments these days. I mean, canning pickles makes me feel almost "pioneer like". Did some tomatoes and salsa today.  Already froze beans and corn from our over zealous garden. All while doing a "summer schedule" of homeschooling, staying on top of my Bible reading plan, mothering the 4(some closely, some far away) and exercising 3-4 times per week.  I've been reading, going to the lake, and enjoying creation this summer as much as I can. I even made some jewelry. HA! Take that productivity!  But then I remembered...when was the last time I actually washed my kitchen floor? Arrrgggghhh. Really? We've certainly been busy. Some illnesses, some drama, some entertaining. Could I have really forgotten to wash my floor?

This is what the water looked like after completing 1/3 of the job. Staring at the repulsive bucket...I remembered something.  Oh Lord! I am  just like this kitchen floor! Walking in, you don't really notice it. You have to stay awhile and look more closely. The layers of dirt are there. Just being ignored. My times of self examination don't usually come while I'm "doing well". Usually just on days of "epic failure". Where I really understand just how dirty I am.  "Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." James 1:16

So why do we not practice this more? Surely we don't want to be judged. Labeled. Pitied? I have a small circle that know the dirty floor in me. How grateful I am to have girlfriends who boldly go to the throne of grace for me! And what would I do if He didn't always clean me up? "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will purify us from all unrighteousness. 1John 1:9. Thank you Jesus for making me clean. And yes, I confess to you all I did some bragging/behaved pridefully early in this post- But it was only to make my point;)