Infestation

Out west the moths are big.  We call them Millers and they arrive from the eastern plains in ugly flocks that cover your bushes.  They are so gross you don't think twice about killing them.

 In our new house in Raleigh we were greeted by a few little moths. They were so slow flying and cute, I felt bad killing them.  The cuteness was my downfall.  Those cute little moths turned out to be what's called "pantry moths" and my benevolence led to a full on infestation this past week.  Open a cabinet - swoosh - out fly five.  Open the cereal - swoosh -  out fly two more.  While we were not paying any attention, those little moths destroyed our groceries and wrecked havoc in our cabinets.  The cuteness wore off.  

While I was cleaning out our cabinets this weekend I was thinking about infestations.  They sneak up on all parts of life, don't they?  I started out this year set on eating healthier and exercising 4 days a week.  Yet little snacks, little celebrations, little stressors and little time commitments have snuck up on me and destroyed my good intentions and wrecked havoc on my health.

The more I cleaned those cabinets this weekend, the more areas of my life I assessed for infestations.  I fear  I found quiet a few brewing.

• Family Time:  a new job for me, new friendships for all of us,one additional activity for each of the girls.  As I look at the next week we don't have a single night all home together.  We've got a family time infestation. 
• Date Nights:  upcoming church events, school spring fling night, starting a community group, work travel, Indian Princesses.  There is not a Friday or Saturday night available this month (and next month doesn't look much better.)  Wow.  Infestation!
• Quiet Time:  waking up late, waking up still exhausted, distractions from the girls, news, work, and our move.  I HATE this - but if I am really honest, the quiet time with the Lord that I cherish each day has been infested by life lately, and its bad!

These are three important parts of my life.  This is the food of my heart and my soul and yet I have let my guard down.  Just like those cute little pantry months, I have let distractions dressed up and called "opportunities" infest my priorities, damage what I say I value, and wreck havoc on me.  

Our pantry sans shelves

Are there infestations going on in your home?  Are cute little opportunities adding up and becoming a problem in your family?  How is your health, your family, your marriage, and your walk with God?  

On Saturday Pete and I were merciless with those cute little moths.  We sucked them up with the vacuum, smashed them with fly-swatters, and sprayed them with bleach.  Then, just to make sure their offspring were not lingering around, we ripped out all the shelving in our kitchen.  We bleached the walls, and caulked the cracks.  We were pretty radical in our attempts to get our kitchen back.  

I want to be that radical with the rest of my infestations.  I want my health, my time with my family, my time with Pete, and my time with God back.  Distractions beware, I no longer think you are cute.