Homemaking is Not for the Weak

Created by Michelle Moss

Housework: The bane of my existence.

I am pretty sure that no one enjoys doing it. I know I certainly do not. I wish I had a magic wand that I could just walk around waving. Better yet – a remote control that could pause my children so that what little I manage to get done wasn’t destroyed in 2.5 seconds.

There are a lot of days when I just do not have the time. Really, who has the time to clean when they are chasing after children all day? I find myself bouncing from one thing to the next, then suddenly my day is gone and people are crying out “What’s for dinner, mom?”.  I live in a constant state of CHAOS (Can’t have anyone over syndrome) as the FlyLady likes to call it, and its true. If someone stops by I am meeting them on the front porch. There is no way they are getting through that front door.

Some of it I can blame on the kids. They are messy little beasties, always undoing what I manage to get done. However, I won’t blame them, because honestly it’s all me.  It is my job as their mother to teach them to pick up after themselves. It’s also my job as a mother to ensure that they listen to me. That takes effort, that takes work. The lazy creature inside of me wants to (and does a lot) let the mess go until it’s to the point where even I can not stand it anymore.

Well, I can’t stand it anymore. I can’t stand to let this go on, to keep being the sinful, lazy creature that I am. I am ready for change, I don’t know if it has to do with what I chose to give up for Lent, or trying to open my heart more and listen to where God is calling me. I do know that I need change, and the time is -now-.

My first baby step was to buy a book written by the FlyLady which I started reading quickly. It’s called Sink Reflections and you can get it on Amazon.com or the FlyLady’s website. It’s all about the baby steps, and the baby steps are working. My home isn’t perfect and it’s never going to be, however learning how to keep things simple and sweet, getting it done, things are turning around in no time. Honestly, it is, I was sitting and sorting laundry, and folding clothes, and instead of hating life, instead of grumbling that I was doing it, I was smiling. I was thinking about what a blessing it was to be able to do this for my family.

Simple 15 mins working on one thing at a time, can make a huge world of difference. Is Housework still the bane of my existence? Yeah, kinda, but it’s getting easier. I have learned in a very short time that it doesn’t have to be done perfectly to Bless those in your home. That it doesn’t have to be done all at once. That if you keep at it, and get yourself a routine you can have a home to be proud of. Nothing matters more than Blessing my family with my work. It makes me feel a little less the selfish, lazy creature that I am. Makes me want to get things done.

Here is a Poem that I am printing out and putting in my kitchen to remind me of what I am doing and why I am doing:

Lord of all pots and pans and things, since I’ve not time to be

A saint by doing lovely things or watching late with Thee

Or dreaming in the dawn light or storming Heaven’s gates

Make me a saint by getting meals and washing up the plates.

Although I must have Martha’s hands, I have a Mary mind.

And when I black the boots and shoes, Thy sandals, Lord I find.

I think of how they trod the earth, what time I scrub the floor

Accept this meditation Lord, I haven’t time for more.

Warm all the kitchen with Thy love, and light it with Thy peace

Forgive me all my worrying and make my grumbling cease.

Thou who didst love to give men food, in room or by the sea

Accept this service that I do, I do it unto Thee.

-Author Unknown

Noel can be found writing at The Heart of My Home.