making the house ready

Dear Lord, I have swept and I have washed but
    still nothing is as shining as it should be
for you.  Under the sink, for example, is an
    uproar of mice - it is the season of their
many children.  What shall I do?  And under the eaves
    and through the walls the squirrels
have gnawed their ragged entrances - but it is the season
    when they need shelter, so what shall I do?  And
the raccoon limps into the kitchen and opens the cupboard
    while the dog snores, the cat hugs the pillow;
what shall I do?  Beautiful is the new snow falling
    in the yard and the fox who is staring boldly
up the path, to the door.  And I still believe you will
    come, Lord: you will, when I speak to the fox,
the sparrow, the lost dog, the shivering sea goose, know
    that really I am speaking to you whenever I say,
as I do all morning and afternoon: Come in, Come in.

+ "Making the House Ready for the Lord," by Mary Oliver

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A big thank you to Orchidacea for this super chipper squirrel!  Tell us, how are you preparing your heart and your home for the mystery of Christmas?