It is no secret I hate to clean. Ask anyone in my family, or better yet just drop by (no really don’t, but if you do pay no attention to the overcrowded bookshelves and the laundry basket on the couch).
When I was working my greatest joy was Maggie’s Cleaning Service. Every two weeks she would come in and scrub my house. I loved it. It was one of the ways I was able to continue homeschooling the kids while working.
A long time ago, before I had children, my cousin told me she loved to clean. When she was cleaning she was loving on her children. I have yet to feel that joy. When I clean I feel distracted: distracted from my writing, distracted from teaching, distracted from ministry, distracted from playing with my kids.
The thing, whether I feel it or not, my cousin was and is right. Cleaning and caring for the house are a part of loving on my family.
Colossians 3:23-24
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. (ESV)
A clean house keeps my children focused in their learning. My daughter says it feels like the house is hugging her when it is shiny.
A clean house is as much a ministry to my family as a healthy meal and gentle word.
A clean house is a way to teach children about priorities. It shouldn’t distract me from playing with the kids, instead it presents hands on opportunities to teach them about life.
Benjamin Franklin once said, “Cleanliness is next to Godliness.” I think he was on to something.
Cleanliness frees me from the clutter of life, it helps me feel organized and on top of things, it clears my mind from a to-do list and allows me to be still. If it does all this for me, I’m sure it does the same for my husband and children.
When my own home is in order it allows me more freedom to minister to others. It provides a comfortable haven for a friend who needs to talk. It frees my mind from stress so I can be more present in my own studies and in discerning the needs of others. It does the same for my family.
I never will be a neat freak, the book shelves will always be overflowing and there will be a laundry basket hidden somewhere when you come to visit. I doubt I will ever sing through my chores in Snow White fashion, but I can still find joy in my responsibilities. Especially when I share them.
hat a great post! I also really dislike cleaning, but I love the feeling of a clean home. After admit as a woman who works full time outside of my home, I find it extremely challenging to keep my home the way that I would like it. Something that has worked for me, is before my children get there nightly dessert, they have to pick up the living room. So that is one simple way I get them involved. I also get up earlier than my family, and some mornings just spend about 10 to 15 minutes straitening up small areas. for me, I have to pick my priorities and I love to have my carpet vacuumed. So even if other things I don’t have time for, vacuuming does not take too long and that is kind of a “pick me up” for me. But cleaning does become a lot more meaningful when I can look at it the way to minister to my family. This was a very encouraging post!