Crumbs

Today it was crumbs that pointed me to God. Really. Crumbs. I have been sweeping crumbs from the floor and from the table and wiping them from children's hands all day. The thought actually flitted across my mind while I applied the vacuum cleaner to the newest pile in the dining room rug: I wonder if my vacuum is working right? Maybe it is actually blowing all the crumbs that I am sucking up right back out onto the floor. I checked the filter, bag, etc. It is working fine and sucking things in, not blowing them out. But, just as I was about to allow myself to fume at the impossible nature of my task today, trying to keep our house relatively crumb (and stickiness) free, God quietly entered the picture. Aren't you trying to uphold a New Year's resolution? Something about intentional praise even when you feel angry or sulky and deeply sad? His small reminder stopped my irritation. I started verbalizing praise in my mind. Thank you Lord for these crumbs. It sounded sarcastic even in my own mind. I tried again, a little harder. Thank you Lord for the crumbs, and...and what they tell me about this morning. I felt myself picking up steam, almost really meaning it. Thank you, because all of these crumbs tell me that my children are well fed and satisfied. Another day and You have kept your promise to provide for us. Not just the bare minimum, but enough that we have leftovers, and enough to share, and yes, enough for crumbs. Thank you Father. I really meant it now. Thank you that you have given me this daily task to remind me that You are my Provider, and the Giver of joy in my life. I feel almost thrilled that God would show up to remind me of His presence in the midst of my daily housecleaning. But that is the way I am learning He works. He uses everything, even crumbs to point me back to Him. Today it is crumbs He will use. Tomorrow what will it be?