Thursday, May 15, 2008

Cleaning Toilets

(no this is not what my toilet facility looked like when I was growing up ;)

O.K, I am posting this devotion because it sparked a memory
and I thought I would share it with you.
When I was young one of my job at home was cleaning the bathroom. Mom trained me very well.
She would hide little things in the bathroom like a small piece of string behind the toilet-and when I told her I was finished she would know just where to check to see if I had done a through and through job. Very sneaky....but then we are good at that as Moms -aren't we?
Anyway as I got older and I was given jobs it seemed like cleaning bathrooms is what I always got assigned to do. Even in college.... I cleaned the bathrooms in our dorm.
Have I mentioned that I have an intense dislike for cleaning bathrooms? ;)
I began to think that when we got to heaven-- if we were given jobs to do---I knew what mine would be.......cleaning heavenly toilets.
But that would be fine....although I do hope we don't have to
clean bathrooms when we get into eternity. How about you?
I am sure we all have chores we would rather skip.
But when I get to heaven..... if that is the job I am given.......I will do it willingly
and with great pride.
I always say that this world is a training ground for what we will do for eternity in heaven.
:0
Maybe I'll get a promotion........wonder what a promotion would be for a bathroom cleaner.....hey, maybe a cook! Maybe that is what those years in the restaurant business were all about.
Wonder what God's favorites are?

I thought the following devotion was good.....and how awesome that it is about
a GUY cleaning toilets. That sounds mighty good to me. \o/
O.k back to packing!
Washing Toilets
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman
05-15-2008

..."those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled' (Dan 5:19).

Paul desired a career in the building industry. Early in his career, he was working with a large ministry to help direct several of their construction projects.

As the projects were completed, Paul was asked to stay on for future projects. To keep him busy he was given a number of jobs - one of which was cleaning toilets. He recalls getting down on his knees each day and complaining to the Lord, "Lord, I'm a college graduate!"

Discouraged, Paul told the Lord, "I will not leave here until You promote me. Please give me contentment with my circumstance."

Paul felt totally forgotten by God. A few months later, Paul received a phone call from a man in the Midwest who owned five successful businesses who wanted to interview Paul for a job. This came as a total surprise to Paul. As he drove to the interview, he told the Lord, "I only want your will in my life, nothing else. I am content to remain obscure for the rest of my life if I have You. You must override my lack of experience for me to get this job."

The owner of the company asked Paul a surprising question: "If I asked you to clean a toilet, what would you do?" Paul sat there, stunned. He wanted to burst out laughing. Paul assured him that he would simply pick up a sponge and start cleaning.

Amazingly, Paul was hired even though other candidates were more qualified. After several months of success Paul asked his boss why he hired him. His boss replied, "Paul, I still have a large stack of applications from people who wanted this job. Do you remember the first question I asked you in the interview? I asked each one the same question. You were the only one who said he would clean the toilet. Paul, I am a wealthy man, but I grew up dirt poor. I clean my own toilets at home. I can't have people running my businesses who are too proud to clean a toilet."

Sometimes God places us in situations to see if we will be faithful in those

14 comments:

luvmy4sons said...

I laughed aloud at this post! My good friend and I often say that we clean toilets to the glory of God. It is the epitome of the thankless job, the lowliest servant position-which is often what being a mom feels like at time! I am glad you shared that devotion with us! And I don't know about you but I am hoping going to the bathroom is part of the fall and that our heavenly bodies will have no need of a toilet! LOL!

Vicki said...

hey there friend. Enjoyed reading this....cleaning toilets is humble business indeed:-)

Denise said...

This was good sis.

Mary said...

Sharon,

I don't like cleaning bathrooms, but hate doing dishes even more. If I had my choice, I think I would take cleaning the bathroom.

I enjoyed the story about Paul and his job interview. Thank you for sharing.

Continuing to pray for you, my friend.

Blessings,
Mary

Sandi said...

I just love this post. I would rather clean the toilet than cook. Sometimes I think how sad someone would be to proud to clean a toilet. To me it one of those simple things. Yes I raised a son I know how messy they get.

Anonymous said...

Haven't been here in awhile and I'm glad for the chance to visit you today. This is a very lovely post. It's true God will put us in a situation to see how faithful we are to him.

MelanieJoy said...

I read that devo before I went to work this morning....may I say God stepped on my toes. I was planning on posting the same one tonight but I didn't have time so I'm going to do it this weekend.
Hope you have a good and productive Friday! ((hugs))
Naw....there's just going to be fishing and singing in Heaven with temps of 72 degrees!!!!

Nise' said...

That was my job when I was at home as well! One of the first things my daughter said when she went away for college was, "she really appreciated how clean the her bathroom at home always was"!! She became the dorm bathroom cleaner. Hope your packing is going well and Keith's back is holding up.

Halfmoon Girl said...

I cleaned my toilets yesterday- gross. They were sparkly for about 3 minutes- with 4 males in the house, they do not remain that way long. In one bathroom, someone didn't even hit the toilet. I came into a little lake near the porcelain throne, and thought "What???" Then I got down on my hands and knees and cleaned it up- to be honest, if I knew who the perpetrator was, they would have been doing it! Anyways, TMI, right? Glad to hear how the Lord is moving in your life. Put on some awesome praise music to help you boogy while you are packing!

Anonymous said...

WOW I have to tell you, I was in Management most of my life and after caring for my dad I left my job. I now am a housekeeper in our seniors home and I LOVE IT!! I have an offer to go into Management there but now I do not know what to do??? Need the money. . But I am so happy in this care free job.. thanks and keep me in your prayers,
hugs
Deb

Anonymous said...

Love this post! I don't mind cleaning OUR toilets, but I'm not fond of cleaning them for others. We once cleaned an old age home for friends of ours who were on holidays (they were superintendents) and EWWWW. I was pregnant at the time so that didn't help. Ewww. Anyway, I'm hoping that there's no cleaning in heaven! Sounds like heaven to me! ;) My job growing up was dusting -- not my favourite job now, but I love it when it's done! D

She Rose Up said...

Hee-Hee! Yes, that was one of my first chores too! I don't particularly relish the chore, but I love the results! Love the devo & the whole thought! Lots of truth here, Sharon!

xoxo,
Maria

Denise said...

I cannot believe that I missed this post........

1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

We never know when God is asking us to humble ourselves in order to train us so that He can exalt us...... God's ways are so very very opposite from the ways of man. We need to renew our vision ....... and see our world as Jesus saw His.............. He was a humble servant............. then reunited with the Father to sit at His right hand.......... but.............. if in heaven He askes me to rake leaves then I will rake away...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Melanie said...

I hate cleaning toilets- but if that's what God wants me to do in Heaven then I'll do it. Hopefully He'll give that job to Rich though ;)

I love the devotional too- how perfect- no one should think they are too good to clean the toilet.