Day 224- Thankful for mats and rugs

My blogging friend, Diana, at Gratitude is an attitude asked me at the beginning of the year if I minded if she would start doing a thankfulness series similar to mine. I didn’t mind at all, so she started a 366 days of thanks, since this is a leap year.

The other day she posted that she is thankful for mats, which got me thinking.

Mats and rugs – who thinks about being thankful for them, except maybe when they are new and unused? They get dirty quickly. All it takes is a rainy day and they start to collect dirt, pebbles, sand, pieces of dead leaves, and if you have a dog that sheds, dog hair. 🙂

Mats so easily become that object that “has to” be swept. Rugs so quickly become that thing that “has to” be shaken and occasionally washed. We so quickly forget that were it not for the mat or the rug, all that dirt would be in the house instead.

I wonder if we wouldn’t do well to have mental door mats to keep things out of our minds?  It would be so much easier to chase it away before it gets in the door than to have to sweep it or scrub it out later, wouldn’t it?

The Apostle Paul gave us this example of how to do this: 

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”  2 Corinthians 10:5

So, a thought comes to us, and we are to immediately check in with Christ to find out if this is dirt that should be wiped off at the door, or whether this is pleasing to God, a gift that is worthy of being brought into the house.

It takes practice, and I am far from perfect at it, but it is a goal worth pursuing.

So, along with my sister, Diana, I am thankful today for mats. 

I’m thankful that she joined me on this journey of thanks. 

I’m thankful for rugs, as well. 

And I’m thankful that we have a Savior who cares enough about us that He is willing to help us wipe the “feet” of our minds to keep out dirt, sand, leaves and messes of all kinds and keep our minds and hearts functioning in praise and the pursuit of loving God and loving others.

What about you?  Are you thankful for mats and rugs?  Do you forget to be thankful for these useful items after they stop being new?  Have you ever thought about checking your thoughts at the door and leaving them outside in the safekeeping of the Savior who can shake them out and send them on their way?