A Clean Sweep

A Clean Sweep

My child, pay attention to what I say.Listen carefully to my words.

Proverbs 4:20

When my nephew, Andrew, was about six years old, he was out jumping on his trampoline. Ignoring calls from his mother and grandmother Mimi that it was time for him to come into the house, he kept jumping. Eventually the two women made their way out to the trampoline, and for the next few minutes they cajoled, promised, bribed, and threatened Andrew, trying to get him to come inside. Nothing worked.

As long as Andrew could stay in the middle of the huge trampoline, he was virtually untouchable. He knew that neither one of the women would climb the stepladder to grab him. So he kept right on jumping, laughing at them, sticking out his tongue, and just generally being a stinker.

A few minutes into the standoff, Andrew’s mother realized Mimi was gone. Sighing, she turned back to the task of getting Andrew down.

As he was jumping to the far side of the trampoline to stay out of reach, Mom saw something out of the corner of her eye and turned to see Mimi with a broom. Sure enough, she swept it under Andrew’s feet and brought him down to where he could be grabbed and forced off the trampoline. The determined expression on Mimi’s face, mixed with the shock on Andrew’s face, made it difficult for his mom to keep from laughing as she told him he was headed for time-out.

Her mission accomplished, Mimi led the way to the house, the broom on her shoulder, like a soldier coming home from battle in triumph.

A clean sweep is good for the soul.

—Stevie Stevens

Father, I thank you for the times in my life when you are quiet, a whisper in the wind. Thank you, also, that you gain my attention by knocking me off my feet when I need it. Amen.