Daily Hope for the Empty NestSample

Laundry

When my kids were growing up, my washer and dryer ran virtually nonstop. Just the five towels each of us used for a daily bath or shower would make up a load. Add a load for our daily outfit, workout clothes my kids wore to their sports practices, plus multiple uniforms, leisure clothing, and pajamas. Literally, if I didn’t wash at least two or three loads per day, piles would develop in the laundry room!

As with most daily family chores, the laundry piles no longer grow as quickly now that my nest is empty. Instead of two to three loads per day, that number is now just two to three loads per week.

In today’s scripture verse from Revelation, the washing of robes does not refer to the literal act of washing clothes. Instead, the washing of robes refers to cleansing ourselves from sin. An important part of cleansing ourselves from sin involves having time for reflection, prayer, and seeking repentance. In the chaos of a full nest, finding time for a true examination of our lives and souls was not always easy. Now, our spiritual lives can take center stage. What a blessing to not only have fewer dirty socks to wash but also more time to focus on spiritual cleansing!

Prayer

Dear God, thank You that I can spend my newfound extra time in the empty nest focusing on cleansing my soul. Amen.

Exercise

Think of a recurring area of sin in your life. Make a list of five specific actions you can take when you are faced with this particular temptation.