Along with this blog I also write a homemaking blog, Homemaking Hacker. For the past couple of weeks I’ve been working on several posts for that blog. Since I’m writing articles related to homemaking, I am thinking more about the jobs of homemaking.

Now, I like to cook so thinking of cooking posts is an easy one for me. But then there’s cleaning and all it entails. I admire people that have a knack for cleaning. Like my sister-in-law, Karen, she has a true talent for cleaning and organizing and I’ve tried to follow her example over the years. While I’m a decent housekeeper, I can’t compare to Karen’s abilities and I’ve learned to tell myself that’s okay. She has a natural gift for it and I’ve been able to learn from her example. So I do the best I can. But if I’m honest, I don’t really like cleaning. It’s a job I would easily work my way out of, if I could. It’s one of those things I want to say “why do today what I can put off until tomorrow”, but I don’t say that (too often anyways). While I have more appreciation for something that needs to be cleaned now, I still fight the temptation to avoid it. So, I remind myself that I need to clean because there is a mess. And that brings me to my topic for today – the messes.

As I’m experiencing the senior year of my youngest child, I’m aware that the messes of children in the home are coming to an end. I’ve noticed the shifts in the amount of cleaning needed as my children have aged. There are just fewer messes now. And while that’s nice it’s a bit sad too. So rather than complain about the need to clean, I’m going to be grateful for all the dirty dishes, piles of laundry, filthy floors, grimy sinks, and smudged windows.

Even though cleaning is not my favorite thing to do, I am thankful for the mess. Because I have a family that lives here and friends that come visit, I have a mess that needs to cleaned. Because someone’s eaten a meal, I have dirty dishes. The floors need swepted because someone’s walked through my home. The dirty laundry hampers full because my family is clothed. I have a sink that needs shining because I have the convenience of running water to use for washing hands and dishes. The smudged window of the storm door comes from being greeted by my son’s dog. So today I give thanks for the messes in my home, because I know they are more than just a mess.

“And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, And establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands.” Psalms 90:17

‘The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish pulls it down with her hands.’ Proverbs 14:1

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” Colossians 3:23-24

“So I perceived that nothing is better than that a man should rejoice in his own works, for that is his heritage. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?” Ecclesiastes 3:22

Until next time,