I cleaned a new house the other day. When I walked in I saw something I never want to see: the dreaded Rainbow vacuum cleaner. I personally do not like to use a Rainbow. At this point I am used to using a canister vacuum. With each passing day, I get better at maneuvering one around because several of my clients have them at their houses. I use my leg to pull it around corners and can pull the bottom attachment off in a split second. Anything you get fast at is a great accomplishment when you want to get your job done as quickly as possible. A Rainbow is different because of the different hoses and attachments. In my opinion, it wasn’t built for speed or ease of use.
The older models have hoses you have to attach to the base. They don’t attach at the head- you have to change the whole hose. Since I’m not used to using one, it makes changing up different heads you use cumbersome. If you want to make the vacuum shorter you have to unhook a cord that powers the attachment as well. When you want to go back to the attachments you can’t just click it back in to place, you have to plug in the cord also.
A couple of people asked me how my new house went and I was able to reply, “Overall, not bad. Except they had a Rainbow. It just isn’t practical when you want to go in and bust a move to get it done.”
The next day when I walked in to the home of a regular client what do you think I saw? Yep. A Rainbow. I took a picture and sent it to my friend with the caption, “Is this a cruel joke or something?”
There was a note on the counter that read, “The Rainbow is ready to use.” Thankfully day 2 had a newer model and I didn’t have to fight with removing the whole hose, but the heads came off instead. Normally I use her Shark upright vacuum. It’s easy and convenient with a lever you step on the release the hose for easy access when needed. It works pretty good on carpet, but the main thing is, it takes out a lot of bending down. There is plenty of that with dusting. I have one I was super excited to get for Christmas a couple of years ago. I actually take it with me to work sometimes. It’s not big and bulky so it fits under beds easily. The only thing is, it isn’t the best on hard floors.
As I took a break in the middle of day 2, I thought to myself about God’s will. It’s not so easy sometimes, especially if you want to do things your own way- which I have been doing. In many ways it does seem easier (but in a lot of ways it’s really not). It’s hard to want to do things the way God would have you do them. It’s hard to lay your pride down and it’s hard to reap what you sow. Sometimes we tend to forget we have consequences for the choices we make, even if it was sown so many years ago.
Doing what God would have us to do works out better but I’m seeing that He has to break me down for me to comply. He’s breaking my will down and it hurts. Even in the pain of cutting off the flesh, it’s happening and He’s making it easier as I spend more time with the One I know always, always has my best interests at heart. It’s a two-way relationship. I have to be honest with Him and I have to accept His honesty towards me.
After I jotted these main ideas down of what I felt being placed on my heart that day on my break, I decided I needed to read a little bit of Scripture. I opened my Bible app to where I’d read a few verses the night before with my devotion. There is was in plain view, the next verse:
1 Peter 3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing than for evil doing.
Verse 18 reminds us that Christ also once suffered for our sakes.
So the results of the Rainbow are better, and if that is what my employers choose for me to use, that is what I must do. The results of doing things the way the LORD wants me to do things is better, that is what I must do. I know He knows best.
Dear Lord, help me to not kick and scream the whole way, but to know there is suffering in doing what is right by You. In the end there is a reward-Heaven, and there I will be with the One who loves my soul for eternity. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Maid in His Image 