Finding Your Joy in Homemaking
(Coffee Mug with Lid from Dayspring)
I’m partially embarrassed to say this but…
I enjoy cleaning and tidying my home.
It’s not so much the work that I enjoy but the challenge to get it done in an effective manner that does not bring me stress.
I used to dread the task of keeping the house clean and neat because my children were young and it would never stay clean for long. I also dreaded it because managing my home seemed a never ending job.
It still is but what has changed with time has been my perspective.
No longer am I striving to have a perfectly clean home.
My goal now is to make our home suitable to my families need for security.
When cleaning and organizing my goal is to make the home a place where they can come relax and be vulnerable.
You may be thinking what does any of that have to do with cleaning?
For me it means that I’ve had to wrestle with and overcome my own faulty idea of what a successful homemaker was. I had to come to terms with the fact that my worth is not tied to how many loads of laundry I am able to do. Nor is it tied to how many tasks I checked off of my to-do list.
I’ve come to realize that my being a keeper at home is designed to correct my attitude.
It challenges me to wrestle with my imperfectness.
Being a homemaker causes me to realize how flawed I am.
It shows me that having everything checked off on my to-do lists mean nothing if I am yelling at my kids everyday.
It reminds me that having the cleanest house means nothing if i can’t bring myself to be intimate with my husband out of shear joy versus obligation.
Being a homemaker allows me to go back to the beginning of time and to be recreated. It’s changed me from the women I was into the women that God called me to be. Being at home brings me into closer relationship with God and allows Him to show me how to create a home where God grace dwells.
If you are struggling as a homemaker stop striving to meet your expectations. Let go of the reigns and turn it over to God. Start by saying a little prayer and confess that you are imperfect. Ask God to help you decrease so that he may increase. He wants to have His way with you. When you allow Him to do so, He will come in and help you to be the homemaker you never thought possible.
If you’d like me to add your name to my prayer journal just leave me a comment below.
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This post has 12 comments
December 3rd, 2011
Thank you. This article is exactly what I needed. Please add me to your prayer journal. thanks!
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December 3rd, 2011
Please add me to your prayer journal. Such a difficult area in my life.
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December 3rd, 2011
I struggle daily trying to keep house. It is too easy to make excuses (working over fulltime, a 1 & 16 year old, outside obligations) and let thngs slide a few days and then everything is out of control. I am trying to find the proper balance between family time, work and cleaning.
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November 12th, 2011
I feel that this message was totally meant for me to see it today. Thank You for letting GOD lead and direct your words so that others may receive the message they need so much.I have so many things going on in my life right now that I can barely breathe, please add me to your prayer journal. I know and speak to GOD every day, sometimes it feels like almost every few minutes…and I Thank HIM for all of HIS Blessings. I also know that it means a lot when others intercede on your behalf, so I thank you for praying for me.
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November 10th, 2011
Please add me to your prayer journal. Thanks.
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November 7th, 2011
Thank you for this blog, your words were very enlightening. I struggle daily with not being good enough at keeping house. Your words brought tears to my eyes and gave me understanding. I’ll be book marking this in case I get down on myself again. Thanks again! <3
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November 7th, 2011
This article really blessed me. I thank God for allowing you to be able to share your experiences with us.
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November 7th, 2011
Really appreciated this post. Would be grateful if you would add me to your prayer list. God bless.
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November 7th, 2011
Would love to be added to your prayer journal! I can never have enough prayer!
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November 7th, 2011
Thank you for sharing this post. It is an encouragement to me. I keep a clean house, but struggle with the tidy part (especially having a one year old!) Thank you for reminding me from where my identity truly comes!
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November 7th, 2011
Could you add me to your prayer list?! As I was standing in my bedroom talking to God He allowed me to see what my heart looked like. Cluttered and out of control. Everything you said above made perfect sense. I want more than anything for my home to be a place that He dwells. Not a place where TRY to have control….but the realitt is I don’t. But them I feel like a failure. Thank you.
Tiffiny
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November 7th, 2011
Would deeply appreciate being added to your prayer journal. This blog opened my eyes today and for that i am grateful!!
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