What Would Happen If...?

Twenty-four hours ago, I returned home to find my house sparkling clean. This is not a rarity, because every other Tuesday, my housekeepers come and after they leave, for just a few hours, all is calm, organized and put away. What is a rarity, however, is keeping it that way. Now, before you bash me for actually having housekeepers at all, let me just say that everyone has their vices that they splurge on or sacrifice for. Ours is our housekeeping. I will forgo a lot of things in life if it means I can have someone help me get the house cleaned every few weeks. It's worth every penny and every sacrifice.

But this morning, I looked around and of course, everything was creeping back out of hiding. The island was covered in homework, my husbands coats and shirts were draped across numerous chairs, socks were scattered around the floor like they'd just fallen from the ceiling and that wonderful smell that lingers each cleaning had faded. I looked around and thought to myself, if everyone would just put things back where they belong, this would be so simple. That one thought stayed with me all day today.

What if everyone just put things back where they belong?

What would happen if before people took our hearts and ripped them right from our chests, they would just put them back in one piece right where it belongs?

What would happen if the hurtful thoughts that slipped from our minds through our lips were put back and never said?

What would happen if we put the plastic back in the recycling bin where it belongs instead of in the landfills?

What would happen if we'd put our families back in their homes where they belong, instead of at countless events that just keep us separated?

What would happen if the corporate greed in our country ended and all those who lost jobs for another man's gain, could be put back in their jobs where they belong?

What would happen if instead of wavering from our dreams and plans, we found a way to put our lives back on the track and follow them once again?

What would happen if the intolerance of a people or race was taken away from bigot leaders and put back where it belongs, as just one man's opinion.

What would happen if the self consciousness of women was put back to the self confidence we had as children, not worried about who thinks about us and what they think?

What would happen if the government actually put our money back where it belongs?

As I worked in my yard this beautiful southern afternoon (saving a few bucks to pay for those housekeepers) I wondered if anyone ever thinks anymore about putting things back where they belong. We live in such a wasteful society, it's so much easier to toss things or people aside and replace them, instead of making a little more effort to make sure the things and people in our lives are where they are actually supposed to be. It's definitely something I'm going to think about more in my own future and try to teach my kids as well. Just put it back where it belongs!