Sanctification through Stains

Recently our pastor covered the topic of sanctification in our Sunday school class. I love this definition of sanctification: “A practical progressive holiness in a believer’s life while awaiting the return of Christ.” However, the class discussed that it should probably read “a painful, progressive holiness in a believer’s life…” to be more accurate.

The Holy Spirit is at work in my life sanctifying me through so many ways and I think one of those ways might be through my carpet. The thing is that I might have some OCD tendencies. So it is important to me to have clean, organized house. Now the problem does not lie with taking delight in my work as a housewife, but in lies in finding my identity through the cleanliness of my home. The good news is that my carpet helps to stave off that pet sin of pride.

The carpet in our house is pretty much the bane of my existence. It is the perfect shade of off-white to showcase every single spec of dirt and stain. We bought our house as a foreclosure six years ago. The previous owners didn’t feel obliged to keep the carpet in good condition so it was stained badly when we bought the house. Two dogs and two kids later, the carpet is definitely worse for the wear. No matter what I do to clean our carpet, it appears dirty.

So, just as I start to reach around to pat myself on my back for being a great housewife, I catch a glimpse of the carpet. The carpet points out all my flaws as a housewife (there are those stains I cannot get out and those stains I have inadvertently created). No matter what I do, there will be a point when I fail at whatever it is that I am doing. Sanctification occurs when the Holy Spirit moves in me and I struggle against those pet sins of pride and self-reliance. My carpet is a daily reminder that I should find my identity only in being a daughter of God, not in being a good housewife. Thank goodness, because you should see my laundry pile right now!

Edited: I wrote this post several weeks ago, but never got around to posting it. Last night my daughter projectile vomited across the carpet in her room. Oh, the irony of giving her orange bell peppers for lunch (those stains are the toughest I have encountered!). Apparently I needed another reason not put my trust in clean carpet.



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