{ Spring-Soul-Cleaning }

 

“When you forgive…it’s like spring cleaning for your heart.” –Marci Shimoff

My husband is waiting for the day when my preferred hobby will be a

creative,

voracious,

unquenchable

desire to….

clean. 

 

I relate well to Kobayashi Issa’s Haiku:

 

Don’t worry, spiders, 
I keep house 
casually. 

 

Cobwebs, dust and grime are never-ending in a home.

But a soul should be cleaned out regularly, too.

I dislike the clutter that comes from misunderstandings.

I’d love to sweep up all my unresolved problems.

And, sometimes I have to mop up messes when I make them with my tongue, attitude or actions.

Spring house cleaning is important in its own way, but a good inner-self cleaning is even more important.

I think it’s important to refresh my brain and soul.

Maybe springtime is a great time to do it.

So, I refresh my brain….

I read the Bible.  The Bible has a lot to say about interpersonal relationships, giving, loving others and self talk.  The heroes and villains inside its pages were REAL PEOPLE.  They were moody, proud, and discouraged sometimes.  I read and learn how they overcame dysfunctional families and personal struggles, and accomplished great things.

I read other helpful books.

It helps a person move from inchoate status to someone-who-is-starting-to-get-it.

I launder my soul, and I…

…forgive people who have offended me.  They may not have earned the gift of my forgiveness, but I am giving the gift to myself.

Sometimes, I walk around oblivious to the fact that I have offended people.

Perhaps I am offending you now, without knowing it.

Or, perhaps I didn’t smile at someone yesterday and they are holding it against me.

But, there are times when I have hurt someone and I know it. 

I don’t naturally want to ask for forgiveness, because…after all…they were wrong, too. 

But, I WIN by being the first one to make it right–even if my part was  only 1.3 % or 49.99%.

I must ask forgiveness for the mistakes I own.

Spring cleaning isn’t always fun.

It can be messy.

But you feel amazing when it’s all over.

Haiku poem taken from: The Essential Haiku. ed. Robert Hass. New York: HarperCollins, 1944.

Photo Credit:Aaron Burden

 

 

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