Dust If You Must

A few years ago, dear FIAR mom Celia, shared this poem with me. It came back to mind today as I stared at some dusty places around our house. I'm allergic to dust mites (true) and so dust around the house makes me anxious. Some days I feel guilty if I see too much dust around....well, maybe I'm not being a good housekeeper. I want to serve our family well and want to be a good steward of our home and be a good model to our kids about cleanliness, etc.

But today I was reminded of this poem and I was thankful for those dust bunnies lying around (although they WILL be gone by tonight!). I realized I've been busy with other things....good things.....reading to my kids...playing games with them....teaching them....visiting friends in need...serving our church family...enjoying time with Brad....singing to my Lord...memorizing scripture....

I do want a clean house...but sometimes a dusty house is still a well-loved home.

Dust if You Must

by Patsy Clairmont

Dust if you must, but wouldn't it be better
To paint a picture or write a letter,
Bake a cake or plant a seed
Ponder the difference between want & need?

Dust if you must, but there's not much time
With rivers to swim and mountains to climb

Music to hear and books to read

Friends to cherish and life to lead

Dust if you must, but the world's out there

With the sun in your eyes, the wind in your hair

A flutter of snow, a shower of rain

This day will not come round again

Dust if you must, but bear in mind

Old age will come, and it is not kind

And when you go and go you must

You, yourself, will make more dust

And now....I must dust! :)