So I don’t know about you, but I have quite a bit of mop-up to do after our Easter celebrations yesterday. We had such a great time! We ended up with twenty children and sixteen adults, so we spread out in the family room at several tables rather than at one big one. Everyone brought parts of the meal, so of course there was way too much food (which I think is the whole idea anyway). The wind-up toy race was a good way to finish the festivities, and I don’t think I want to see another jelly bean for at least a week.
But two things struck me about it. One is a verse my husband pointed out at the end of 1 Corinthians 15 (the great resurrection chapter): Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. He pointed out that cleaning up stacks of dishes is one of those abounding works, one of those labors that is not in vain. And I’m grateful I have a kitchen abounding with good work for me to do!
But secondly, when the disciples heard and really believed that Christ was risen, the celebration didn’t end the next morning. We live in the light of the risen Christ. The good news continues to be good news from one morning to the next. So, even though I’m mopping up from the feasting, the rejoicing extends from one Sunday to the next, all year long.
So many blessings on you all as you abound in the good work of mopping up.
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Amen! I guess I should go finish mopping up! 😉
My guests did all the main dishes yesterday, so that leaves the piles of glasses and dessert dishes to wash during nap time today. Not bad! Besides, leftovers for dinner tonight. Woohoo!
“…your labor is not in vain.” A whole lot depends on your definition of “in vain.” I used to feel like washing all those dishes, etc. was “in vain” because everything just got dirty again so quickly. But then I heard a prayer by a very wise man who said something like, “Lord, we thank you for making the sun come up this morning, because we know that the only reason it did was because You said, ‘Do that again.'” I’m so thankful that God doesn’t get tired of doing things that just have to be done again!
Twenty children and sixteen adults! Wow! Many thanks for the encouraging words.
“I’m so thankful that God doesn’t get tired of doing things that just have to be done again!”
Amen…especially when it comes to forgiving us. He has to wash us up far more often than we have to wash up the dishes!
Good point, Valerie. And, just to clarify, my guests did a ton of the mop up too! But there is just so many dishes that can be crammed into a dishwasher….and I didn’t let them get the vacuum cleaner out! That would be funny!
What a good word, Nancy! I’m mopping up with happy and contented sighs. What a glorious day we enjoyed! Since we had a houseful of out-of-town guests, my washing machine is doing my work for me.
Many countries celebrate Easter Monday as a holiday. After a full-orbed feast and celebration, it seems like a perfectly good idea to me!
Oh, I thought your husband was offering to do those dishes for you when he declared it a work not in vain:-)
We, too, had a wonderful holiday celebration weekend. Our family shared a Christian Passover dinner that we have done for many years now on Easter Saturday. We first tried it as a one-time school project, but the children fell in love with it and want to do it every year. We all cleaned up together very late Saturday as we had company coming on Sunday right after worship. On Sunday, we shared a meal with another family from our church: four parents, 16 boys, and 5 girls! WooHoo!
You have this way of making clean up sound …… joyful.
Thanks for the godly encouragement towards our family and our labors here on earth.
no dishwasher here, so i “abound” on a regular basis;)
but i will never think of washing dishes in quite the same way hereafter♥
Most of my mopping up was done on Saturday since we were blessed to spend Easter Sunday with friends. For me, this is still is a wonderful reminder to rejoice in my daily chores. Praise God for the laundry, dishes, and messes generated by His wonderful gifts to me. (And Amen to Valerie!! so true!!)
May God give me a thankful heart for all the abounding good work available in my life!