Walking Therein

CHCH Challenge - Who Needs All This Stuff???

    Yes, we started the  Clean Heart Clean Home Challenge a week late. but, we have not stopped cleaning since I first read about it and checked out The Organizer.  So, regardless of whether I am on-schedule or 1-week late - or even on-schedule with being 1-week late, the CHCHC has made a wonderful impact in our lives.

    I know that the Clean Home aspect is very important. I also know that the main goal is to have a Clean Heart first. What is the point of having a clean home if your heart does not reflect the Spirit of God and an attitude to match?  Jesus does not want us to have the appearance of Godliness, but to have the heart of Godliness.

    My Sweetie has always wanted a spotless home.  I, on the other hand, did not grow up with such desires.  I am not saying I didn't want a nice, clean or even spotless home.  What I am saying is that I was not trained to see the mess.

    I usually did not see the mess until there was someone knocking at my door, or I had to leave in 30 minutes.  Then, the mess in my kitchen or on the floor became vividly noticeable.  At that point, it was a huge point of frustration.  And, of course, since the mess usually belonged to the Littles that I had not kept after to pick up after themselves, it was usually 'their mess.'  Oh, to take back even a few ignorant rampages!!

    I say ignorant, not because I am justifying them, but, because I was ignorant of the fact that they were, in actuality, my messes.  In addition to that, I was ignorant of the actual age of accountability on several issues when my oldest were little.  Poor babies!! I am happy to be training my children in these areas.  I want to say 'especially my girls', but I suppose I could say 'especially the boys'.  Either way, they are all ahead of my game, because they will have experience with much younger sibs and the learning associated with age.

   So, how did I get here?  Because I need to be happy that I am working on my Home (even though it looks like someone went through all the rooms and pulled all the "stuff" out to the dining room!).   But, I also need to realize that my home reflects my heart. I have a bunch of "stuff", because I have issues with "stuff."  And, if I get into all of that, this would be a really long post!!! But, we do each need to evaluate our hearts in light of our homes... or our homes in light of our hearts.... regardless, why do I have all this stuff?  Can I let go of it and trust God?

   Can I get my priorites in order and let God be in control of my time and my finances and the "stuff", too?

   Can I turn to Him with all my heart?  Can I open my heart before Him, letting Him take away any fear and cleanse it? 

   And, do I really need all this "STUFF"??? 

   I have thought a lot about what I would take in case of fire.  Or what about the hurricanes in LA... Did you go over in your mind what you might take if given a day or 2 to get what you want?  After My Sweetie and children, I would get all their photos and albums, maybe some keepsakes... first quilts.. drawings.   I would probably have to take the pc, because I have some on there, too.  I even thought I could leave the homeschool books, because they are replaceable.   What I guess I am saying is that, most of my 'stuff' is replaceable.  I hate to be wasteful.  I don't want to throw something out for fear that I may need it later.

   The problem with that  is that it can be taken to an extreme.  I can waste my time going through boxes of 'stuff' over and over.  I can waste my energy moving them and deciding where to store them.  I can waste my marriage if my 'stuff' irritates My Sweetie.  So, I guess I need to decide what I am wasting and what is more important.  Some things, I will need to hold on to.  The rest, well, it is going into a Garage Sale today. And, after that, it will be taken to a women's shelter or wherever they need it.  I have finally realized that god is truly My Provider, and time is too short to waste shuffling my "stuff".

Amen for that realization, finally!!

why does it take so long to learn...

3:36 PM, Friday, April 28, 2006 .. Posted by Momofmusicmasterplus4

Jacque,

Wow, sounds like I could have typed that! Surprise, surprise! It took me this long to realize that my husband does deserve a clean house! And I'm in the same situation of it getting worse at first - but I'm hoping to get rid of half of it, so it'll be neater as I put it away.

Well, I finally started a blog!

Take care,
Danielle