Carpet Stains

   The carpeting on the floor in our former Springville home was light brown, not the greatest for country living. About three or four times a year, we would have to call a cleaning company to steam away the marks made by tracking in mud from the outdoors and spots from spilling coffee, tea and pop.

   There were a few areas where foot traffic was especially heavy. Over the years those places became harder and harder to clean. Sometimes the company would have to return a few days later to touch up the stains which still remained after the first cleaning. Dark ripples and lines were etched into carpet as it got older.

   When Al and I decided to put our house up for sale, steam cleaning the soiled rug was one of the first things that had to be taken care of. After it was finished, there were still some visible spots, but nothing that seemed too serious. Our attention was quickly diverted to packing and all of the other things which had to be done.

   A couple relocating to Springville from the LA area made an offer on our little place; and as soon as escrow was under way, the prospective buyers arranged for two routine inspections. One informal inspection was made inside the house and the other was to check for any structural problems like termites and wood rot or major cracks in the foundation.

   Well, the outside inspection did turn up a few problems that were easily corrected. However, the report on the inside mentioned the stained carpet. I was mortified. It was true, but not nice to see it in writing!

   That didn’t seem to faze the buyers, who were most likely planning on replacing the aged carpet with something else anyway. Just me! I had gotten used to the stains. Sure they were more evident after some of the furniture had been moved away, but they weren’t that bad, were they? 

   Isn’t that also true about the sin in our lives? In spite of the fact that God tells us to confess our sins to Him and He will forgive us, we tend to rationalize, cover them up or ignore them, thinking that they aren’t that important. But God knows our hearts well. We sure can’t hide anything from Him.

   Sin prevents us from having a close relationship with our loving Father, with the final consequence being death—separation from Him forever. Jesus shed His blood on the cross so that by believing in Him we might have eternal life. Only He can cleanse us and change our hearts.

   Dear Father, Please forgive us for sinning against you and for going our own way. Thank you for Christ’s blood that was shed for our sins and for providing the power to change through the gift of your Holy Spirit. Thank you for Easter! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

   “Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:4-6 NIV

   Thank you, Jesus, for your great sacrifice of love! 

May this be a time of repentance, cleansing, salvation and transformation in our lives. Happy Easter!

   Coloring eggs with Nate, Elliot and Shanda... our first Easter together in Michigan. PTL!