Lesson From a Robotic Vacuum

This past Mother’s Day, my daughter gave me one of those little robotic vacuum cleaners. You know the kind, small, round, and determined. At first, I found myself watching it like a child watches a remote-controlled car. It bumped into furniture, turned around, adjusted its course, and kept going. But before long, I noticed something else, it was actually doing a pretty good job cleaning my floors.

As I sat there watching that little machine quietly do its work, I couldn’t help but think about the Holy Spirit.

Much like that robotic vacuum, the Holy Spirit has a way of moving through the hidden spaces of our lives. He goes places we often overlook—those dusty corners of old wounds, hidden attitudes, secret pride, unforgiveness, fear, and habits we’ve learned to live with. We may think everything looks clean on the surface, but God sees what settles in the corners.

King David understood this when he prayed:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts.”
— The Bible Psalm 139:23

The Holy Spirit doesn’t clean with condemnation, He cleans with conviction, love, and purpose. Sometimes He bumps into areas of our lives we’d rather keep untouched. Sometimes He circles back to something we thought had already been dealt with. But He never does it to shame us. He does it to make us holy.

Jesus said:

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost… he shall teach you all things.”
— The Bible John 14:26

Just like my little robotic vacuum keeps moving until the dirt is gone, the Holy Spirit continues His work in us until we begin to reflect Christ more clearly. He’s not interested in surface cleaning, He’s after transformation.

Paul reminded believers of this truth:

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
— The Bible Philippians 1:6

So now, every time I hear that little vacuum humming across my floors, I smile. Because I’m reminded that while my vacuum is cleaning my house, the Holy Spirit is still cleaning me.

And honestly? I’m grateful He never stops!

The Gift of Encouragement

Today's been a rough day for multiple reasons. Not only have I been struggling with some health issues, I've also been second guessing myself on some recent decisions. 

It's also been an emotional day as I'm missing my brother. He went to be with the Lord 3 years ago today. 

Needless to say, Satan has taken advantage of my vulnerability. I'm well aware of his tactics. Over the past 60 years, I've learned my adversary quite well. But that doesn't make it any easier when my guard is down and my armor on the shelf. 

Normally, I'm in a good place. I know all the things to do and usually do them, but sometimes, I fall. I'm only human. It's during those times of weakness I could use a friend and more often than not, God always shows up by prompting one of them to reach out via call, text, or snail mail. Today was one such day. 

There are those that don't believe in God's perfect timing, but I do. I can't tell you how many times I've been nudged by the Holy Spirit to send out a card or letter. When those little pushes come, I act. Once again, I've learned over the years, my response is often part of God's blessing to someone else. 

I did a spiritual gifts test a long time ago and found out that I have the gifts of mercy, discernment, and encouragement. Those are complicated gifts, especially mercy, but that's a post for another time. Of all three, I'd have to say my favorite is the gift of encouragement. Not only do I have the honor of blessing others, the blessings I put forth always come back to me in one form of another. 

A couple of weeks ago, I felt led to reach out to a person I've never met. We connected through the cancer magazine I do freelance writing for and instantly hit it off. Though she lives in one state and I another, we used social media to correspond. Not only is she a breast cancer survivor, too, she's a believer which makes it even more special. 

The Holy Spirit must have prompted her to do a little ministry several days ago because today, right when I needed it, a beautiful card came in the mail for me. This sister in Christ had taken time to send me a word of encouragement. 

Now I'm not used to being the recipient! I'm always the sender, so that's taken some getting used to, but I like it. 

As I read her note, I smiled. It was brief but filled with love. Not only did she include kind words, she also slipped in one of my favorite scripture verses, Romans 8:28 "We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love Him." 

When I'd finished reading the card, I thanked God for this timely little blessing. That's when I noticed, on the back of the card she'd written Ps. 121 over her address label. How perfect! Another of my favs! 

God knew I was going to need that card and those specific verses today. If my friend hadn't listened to the Holy Spirit, I would've missed the much needed encouragement. 

Isn't it wonderful how our Heavenly Father loves us so much? He cares about every tiny detail of our lives. That's why it's so important that we pay heed to the Holy Spirit. We are the hands and feet of Jesus. We can do the little things that help remind others of His great love. What an honor!

"But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness." Hebrews 3:13

The Oil of Joy For Mourning

The past few days have been difficult. Although the New Year has come and it should be a time of celebration and renewal, I've been in a season of mourning. My mother died on December 23. We'd been expecting her death but losing a loved one is never easy. I do take solace in knowing she was a believer and now that she's absent from the body, she's present with the Lord. That gives me great comfort and I know I'll see her again one day but in the meantime, the grief of losing her has come. Try as I might, I never know when it's going to overpower me. Everywhere I look, I see her. In my children's mannerisms, in photographs, in nature. Even though she's no longer here in bodily form, she'll always be with me. 

Some days have been harder than others. This morning, as I was having my devotional, I looked up from my Bible to see a red rose that I'd been given from her funeral service. The smell of it was heady. I took the rose in my hands and held it there. Each intricate and beautifully delicate petal reminded me of God's perfection and His handiwork in nature. Surrounding the rose was a cluster of Baby's Breath. Mama always loved Baby's Breath. We used to have it growing in a small section of yard behind our house. I'm not sure, but I think Mama said she got a start of it from my Great Uncle L.M. who often saved family heirloom plants. Beneath the Baby's Breath was another of Mama's favorites - Lily of the Valley. To this day, I can still smell the wonderful fragrant bell-shaped flowers of this plant. I even have a perfumed oil scented with Lily of the Valley. I bought it specifically to remind me of Mama. 

My heart was heavy as I continued my devotion. Thinking of the brevity of Mama's life consumed me but also helped remind me that we are all just vapors, here today and gone tomorrow. At 79 years young, she lived a full and happy life often revolving all of her time and attention on her children and grandchildren. 

I continued reading Scripture and was reminded of the verse in Isaiah where God speaks to Zion and tells the people He will comfort them their time of sadness. He promises to replace their sorrow with beauty for ashes and the oil of joy for their mourning. As I read the verse, I knew God was speaking to my heart, too. He knew my pain. He knew I missed my Mama and even though grief is part of the healing process, I felt He wanted me to focus more on the oil of joy He was pouring out to me. 

In the broken pieces of my heart, He was pouring in the healing balm of Gilead. All my hurts were being soothed by His gentle hand of comfort. As I cried out to Him in my brokenness, I felt the sweetest peace envelope me. I knew His Spirit, the Comforter, had come to minister to me. 

Sitting quietly at my kitchen table, eyes closed, I listened to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Words of love filled my mind and heart as let go of my emotions. Knowing my Heavenly Father is well acquainted with my grief, I rested. 

I'm sure there will be more days when the grief of losing Mama will be powerful but I also know God will be with me. He's promised to never leave or forsake me. And though I'm now technically an orphan by earthly means, my Everlasting Father will always be by my side to comfort, soothe and encourage me. 

Grief is painful but God wants to give us the oil of joy for our mourning. We only have to be willing to accept it. If your heart is hurting today, please turn to Him for relief. He wants to ease your pain as only He knows how to do.


"To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

Isaiah 61:3New King James Version (NKJV)