The Smell

What is that smell? I stood in the middle of my room after arriving home from a long and tiring visa run. My mind was worn out, and I just could not place that smell. Did the kids wet the bed? Was it moldy pillows or clothes? Dirty diapers? Well, seeing as I could not identify it, I went back to the living room to get Travis ready to leave for his visa run. (We have to take turns so that the kids will not be left alone)Off and on during the day, that smell came wafting out of the room to greet my unhappy nose, but there were things much more pressing to do than to try to figure out what that smell was. After being gone for nearly a week, the kids needed attention, the house needed attention, and of course, the school needed a LOT of attention. (We won't even discuss the mountain of laundry)By the next day, that smell was becoming a bit more dreadful.  I stood in the middle of the room again trying to place that terrible smell...then it came to me...it was a dead smell, something must have died in my room. But, it was time for our baths, so it would just have to wait. I made a mental note to tell Roy to find and dispose of whatever it was when he got home. Unfortunately, Roy came and announced that he would have to go right back down to the school…no, he did not have time to locate a dead something in my room!After bath time, supper time, and worship time,  the girls came to me and asked me what that smell was.  I informed them that I thought that something must have died in my room. They insisted that they could not, under any circumstances, sleep in a room that smelled that bad. They were going to go and find it, was that OK with me? Of course I was thrilled, since I was simply mortified about needing to go and find it myself. I don't exactly like dead things...especially things that smell that bad.So Memewah, armed with enthusiasm and determination, and Meme, well equipped with superior smelling abilities, went boldly into my room to find and eradicate the offensive odor. Meme was on the front lines of attack, sniffing as she went. Memewah helped by moving items away from the wall, and suggesting places to sniff. Finally, it was determined that the smell was coming from behind my dresser. This would require calling in the cavalry. Soon, “Sehdoe, Tooguhbahsow, come quick!” was wafting its way to the unsuspecting boys, who were studying in their house. Not knowing what had shattered the peace of the realm, they dashed to our rescue, not knowing if there were thieves and robbers, or snakes, scorpions, or any other kind of emergency.What met the boys when they entered the house was that nasty smell, and two little girls who urgently needed their help to move the dressers. Now, Tooguhbahsow has not been here all that long, and was rather disgusted with such enterprises, and he firmly seated himself in the living room to see what would become of the whole matter. But Sehdoe, smiling as usual, went with the little girls to see what he could do to help. It wasn’t long before shrieks of laughter came from the room. What could possibly be so funny? Memewah had found the mouse! She came out laughing hysterically while trying to tell me all about the progress of its decomposition…somehow, I failed to see anything funny about it, and steadfastly refused her pleas to come and see!Hannah, who had been trying to sleep in that stinky room, suddenly developed a decided fear of dead things, and came screaming out to where I was firmly planted as far away from the room as I could get. We watched from the safety of our perch while Sehdoe gingerly carried the offending critter out to better resting places. After the girls sprayed down the area with strong spray cleaner, everything settled down to normal. Peace and harmony had been restored, and much better air quality too I might add!I have been contemplating that dead mouse a lot today, and it seems to me that sin is a lot like that  mouse. It may not seem that bad to start with, but if we allow it to stick around for long, it affects every aspect of our home.  If we want to have a home where love and peace reign, we have to get rid of the sin in our lives. Just as a dead mouse tells everyone within smelling range that it is certainly dead, and rather disgusting, so if we cherish sin, all those around us will be able to smell the offensive odor which we cannot hide for very long. I want the pure atmosphere of Jesus to dwell in my heart and home, how about you?