Keeping Home

Let's talk housekeeping. Housekeeping is NOT my favorite activity. It has taken years for me to really get a semi-decent grasp on managing everything, and even now, I have a way to go before I can honestly say that my home is run as efficiently as it could be. But I am thankful that the Lord continues to teach me and encourage me. In fact, recently, the Lord has laid alot on my heart regarding housekeeping. No, its not some weighty, spiritual matter, but its important, even to Him!

First, why is housekeeping important? It seems so menial, repetitive, and sometimes pointless! Plain and simple, its important because God says it is:

• All of Proverbs 31 demonstrates the ways in which a woman enriches, oversees, blesses, and takes care of her home and the ones living within it
• "The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down." Proverbs 14:1
• "...encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored." Titus 2:4-5
• "Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach…" 1 Timothy 5:14

Notice that three of those come with warnings about what happens when women are not taking up these tasks! We can tear down our house, the Word of God can be dishonored, and we can give the enemy occasion for reproach when we are not striving to fulfill God's purposes and responsibilities for us as women! Scary! That is some serious responsibility! But He does not leave us ill-equipped.

God created the home to be a place of ministry - to our families and to others through hospitality. Is my husband blessed by having clean laundry for work? Yes! Do my children see and learn love and sacrifice as we work together to clean up messes? Yes! Can I welcome others in for a well-cooked meal and fellowship if I don't have to be embarrassed by the disarray of my home? Yes! Does chaos interfere with peace? Yes! You see, housekeeping itself is a ministry, allowing the work and love of the Lord to increase and produce fruit.

I wanted to share some homekeeping tips I've learned (and am learning) along the way. First and foremost, the most important secret to housekeeping is... DO IT! Don't be lazy!! Just get up and do it, with an attitude that praises the Lord - "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord..." Colossians 3:23.

Put on some praise and worship music, or a good teaching CD, or whatever energizes you, and get to work! Really, nothing else matters if you don't get up and get it done! You can create cleaning schedules, make lists, be overwhelmed by the mess, rant and rave that your husband is a slob... but none of that matters if you're not actively taking part in doing your job! Lately I've gotten into the habit of stopping myself whenever I start thinking "I'm bored"or looking for ways to entertain myself... I think "what can I do to bless my family?". It takes me outside of my selfishness and puts me into the mindset of serving others, as the Lord would have it.

That being said... a few practical pointers are also good for those like me who feel completely inept and clueless when it comes to housekeeping.

Decluttering is good. If its broken beyond repair, doesn't fit anymore, hasn't been used in 6 months or more, or you've completely forgotten you even own it - toss it or give it away! The less things you have, the less there is to clean up!

The old saying "A place for everything and everything in its place" is very true. Get organized. Work on finding an efficient place for your essentials. We don't have a linen closet, so I am working on getting some under-the-bed totes for sheet sets in the boys room. Creating storage space is really helpful - but remember how important decluttering is, too! Don't just store away clutter to get it out of sight! ;-)

Get help! LEARN about what kind of things make housekeeping easier! There are tons of email lists, Flylady and Menus4Moms are two. There are books galore! One I am reading right now is"Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House" Find a Titus 2 mentor, an older woman who can give you some hints and pointers. Routines are good, lists are good... discover and learn what will work best for you, and put it into practice!

Finally, fix your attitude! Instead of seeing it as drudgery, find joy in it! Take hold of the truth that your home is a blessing and a place of worship, ministry, and love. Bless your family! Serve the Lord in all things, including the things that seem small or trivial! "Do all things without grumbling or disputing" Philippians 2:14

Here are some quotes from today's Revive Our Hearts Radio progam that inspired me:

How do we help give woman a vision for the value, the purpose, and the importance of being homemakers—whether they’re working outside their home or not—making their home a place that brings glory to God? Why is homemaking such an important thing for women to learn and understand today?

Why does God care if a woman has homemaking skills? Because the home was the first institution that was created by God.

...for a woman to be a homemaker is really fulfilling a huge part of God’s purpose for her life.

...the way they keep their home—and the way they give it their attention and their best effort and their skill—is a reflection of, first, their obedience to God’s Word.

...it’s a way that I’m a steward of my gifts and abilities.

... it’s a way that I demonstrate my love for my family.

But when it comes down to it, to be the wife, the mom, the woman, the homemaker that God intended us to be—it takes the grace of God. The power of the Holy Spirit gives us the desire and the power not just to have a neat house—a non-believer can do that—but to have a house that really draws those that we love and others that come into our home to want to know and love God better. That’s the motive for homemaking.

Amen!

(I wanted to add - while we want a home that blesses the Lord through order and cleanliness, we don't want to go too far overboard and become a tyrant, not letting the children play with anything, losing our tempers over clutter on the counter and so on... our homes and our attitudes are to be a BLESSING toward those around us! So find the balance, maintain the right attitude, and please do see the importance that keeping our home plays in our service for the Lord!)