Sep. 24, 2008 - BFS #103 "It Keeps going and going and going"
Memory Verse: 1 Timothy 4:15 (NIV)
Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress
Housework. It is something we can not go for long without doing. In my house, with 4 kids, i am often cleaning only one area over and over and over again. It does get weary and I often want to just throw in the towel and hide in front of my computer or a book or my knitting. i am not a good housekeeper. It has so long been the biggest disappointment with my husband; he wishes i were a better housekeeper. And I have been disappointed in myself.
There are a few things I have to tlak about , though, because I do not really lack that much hope nor am I THAT discouraged with my housekeeping abilities.
First, one major revelation I made was that I am NOT the only one who struggles with diligence in housekeeping. I read "the messies Manual" by Sandra Felton, and a few of her other REALLY enlightening books. She describes a couple of different kind of people-the "messie" and the organized (or it might have another name). She described me in the "Messie" person to a T! I was so thrilled to understand "messies" and therefore myself. After that, I didn't feel so hopeless...I CAN change, I just have to be more diligent and purposeful about cleaning my house. So, I got to work but not without some discouragement along the way...4 or 5 years later, i am still a messie-but not as messy :)
So, I tried to be better. Then , there came a time within the last year where I began to feel utterly hopeless, cause i was not perfect...there wasn't GREAT adn HUGE changes and my husband was still disappointed...actually, he had resigned and given up on hoping it will ever get any better. Ugh! Then, i heard a sermon from my pastor that talked a bit about grace and encouragement. AS christians, we should always be on the track to getting better and never become complacent with where we aer. That is one thing i can say that i am NOT-COMPLACENT with who i am or where i am. HE talked about how as christians, we tend to judge each other and say "It has been 5 years! and you STILL haven't changed this!" (OMG, Was that my husband he was citing?) He said, that is NOT the way we should be, that is NOT the way grace operates. Instead, we should say, "you were there...and 5 years later, you are here...HOW GOOD GOD HAS BEEN TO YOU! LOOK AT HOW HIS GRACE HAS MANIFEST IN YOUR LIFE!! Praise God! " SO, that was a VERY encouraging thing-cause my husband wasn't teh only one who was disappointed and discouraged with me.
So, In 5 years I have learned littel things like, the best way to clean the bathroom is while i am in there-like cleaning the shower while i am takinig a shower, then get out and wipe down the toilet and sink. then, throw out the dirty clothes and make sure there is a garbage can in the bathroom to put the garbage in. Once a week, clean the toilet and the floors. That, i can do- I have learned that my kids can be hard workers. They can throw laundry down into the basement, put the dirty clotehs out of the bathroom and pick up the garbage, their toys in the living room and dining room AND they BEG to do the dishes! So, i have tried to utilize their willingness and energy. I work VERY well to music...loud adn fun and Christ centered...Jeremy Camp, Chris Tomlin, Bebo Norman, an acoustic worship cd, etc. sometimes even some classical-like Classic Wynton with some GREAT trumpet processionals/marches-LOTs of fun to work to. In the past 5 years, I have improved. I even have some very big improvements-like the dining room wall was really cluttered. I had to purpose and keep redirecting myslef there, but I got it done. You wouldn't know it now cause there is more "stuff" there-that just happens, right? isnt' there some kind of law of nature that says "an empty spot will never remain empty. It cries out 'FILL ME WITH JUNK'!" there are a few sore areas, bu tI have become more diligent with maintaining some kidn of neatness on teh floors every day by making hte kids clean up after themselves. My worst areas in need of improvement is laundry - adn dishes. they constantly seem to overwhelm me. I have clothes EVERYWHERE! and they just seem to keep coming! BUt this is also conquerable...I just need to find the niche. (is that the right use of that word?) :) I also need to work on NOT pleasing people, even my husband...bt GOD first.
2Corinthians 5:9 "therefore, we also have as our ambition,whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to [GOd]"
So, this week, keeping diligence in mind, I will take a pictureof the dining room wall and work on it. And maybe that will spur me on to the other wall or the closet or the corner of the living room...
THanks for reading!
heather ;)
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