I sat in my chair, laptop in front of me trying to stay focused on writing this post.  I had the basic idea formed, but Christmas songs kept breaking into my train of thought.  I persistently pushed them aside.  I had managed to write a whole paragraph when  I heard a knock on the front door.  I inwardly gulped, it was just past noon and I was still in my pajamas; spotted cow, footie pajamas.  Brett wasn’t home, he had gone out to run a few errands.  I was too embarrassed  to answer the door wearing spotted cow, footie pajamas and I won’t even bother to describe what my hair looked like.

I love sunshine streaming through the windows so I had already opened the blinds to the front window and I hoped I hadn’t been spotted…in my spotted cow, footie pajamas.  I put down my computer and slipped off my chair scooting along the floor below the window.  I whispered to Aspen not to open the door!  I rationalized I could tell them later, whoever they were, that I had been in the shower and unable to answer the door.  I would like everyone to believe that I get a shower before 8am every morning.  Being a stay-at-home mom, however, I generally get a shower sometime before noon.  If someone drops by before noon,  Brett usually answers the door and I disappear to get the shower I’d like everyone to believe I get before 8am every morning.

If only our eyes saw souls instead of bodies how very different our ideas of beauty would be……

I saw these words on a meme a few days ago and it won’t let me go.  What if?  What if when I was walking down the street others saw my soul, saw into my heart and who I really am instead of my outside shell?  Isn’t that thought just a little scary?  I make sure I look and smell acceptable before I leave my house or answer my front door.   I get a shower, brush my teeth, and wear appropriate clothing for the occasion.  If my face has a break out or two I throw on a little cover up and my complexion goes back to looking nearly flawless.

What if (and I’ll make up a few scenarios) when I went to work at the office instead of seeing the great outfit I put together along with my bright, ultra white smile and my friendly “Good Morning” my co-workers saw that, behind their backs, I was conspiring for them to lose their jobs?  Or what if when I went to church and instead of seeing the pastors perfectly coordinated suit and tie I can see the lies he has told, the affair he is having with a church member and what he watches on his computer after everyone else is in bed?

If others could see past my exterior would I spend more time with God begging Him to replace my heart of stone with a heart of flesh?  If I could see past others exteriors would I have more compassion?  The second half of Numbers 32:23 says, “you may be sure that your sin will find you out.” Eventually the evil in our hearts that at first holds up the good exterior becomes stronger than our exterior and crushes it exposing the truth behind the lie.

A heart that is divided can not stand.  The constant pull of good against evil will cause it to fall.  Today is a good day to give your whole heart to God.  Tomorrow will not be easier.  God says in Ezekiel 11:19, “I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.”  God says. “I will”.  Will you?