The priests made repairs [to the wall], each in front of his own house. —Nehemiah 3:28 (NIV)
One of Grandma’s evening rituals was sweeping. She’d begin in the kitchen, careful to capture every crumb, and end on the front porch, sweeping our welcome mat with vigor. Once I asked her why she swept the porch every day, even when it didn’t need it. She leaned on the handle of her broom and winked at me, as though she were sharing a secret. “If everyone would sweep in front of his own door, the whole world would be clean.”
I was much older when I realized Grandma wasn’t just talking about stray leaves and tracked-in sand. And now I remember her simple adage when I’m tempted to repeat what I heard about that single lady on the next block. Or when I complain about the neighbor’s dandelions. I recall it when I begin a rampage on “other people’s” kids. Or when I want to blame my mistakes on someone else. That’s when I check for crumbs at my front door. And taking my broom, I get back to the full-time job of keeping my own porch clean.
Forgive me, Father, for the times I’ve meddled in other people’s lives. With Your help, I’ll tend to my own affairs.
