Our Thoughts on Homemaking
See what people have to say about this topic below. (If you would like to share your thoughts on this topic, please include them in the comment section. You can include your favorite scripture or quote along with your thoughts. Comments are moderated, so they will not appear immediately.)
My mother once told me that if I would keep my home clean and orderly, then I would be happy. I would nod my head in agreement, but laugh inside, because cleaning did not make me happy! But here I am, many years later, knowing the truth of her words.
Cleaning and keeping my home orderly DOES make me happy. Who knew?
When I take the few minutes it takes to keep my home clean and organized, I do feel a sense of peace. I understand now, as I didn’t then, that this peace is real. And it comes for many reasons:
1. God is a God of Order, and when my home has order, there is peace. Chaos that comes from not being able to find something (i.e. homework, shoes, clothes, toothbrushes, bills, etc.) does not bring peace to my life. It only creates confusion and anger –two things I don’t want in my home.
2. Cleanliness really is next to Godliness! A stinky house doesn’t really help the peace-factor.
3. Teaching children basic skills (like cleaning up toys, doing dishes, emptying garbage) will help them feel needed while they are young, and give them independence as they get older.
4. When I keep the house clean and organized, I don’t feel anxiety when I sit down to relax. I can relax without a running list of chores clouding my mind.
I know women go about their homemaking differently, and that is just fine! The fact that we all try is the key. It seems strange to feel so strongly about homemaking, but I’ve found that taking the time to keep my home clean and organized really helps me and my family feel peace.
Example: Last night, my husband had to work late. I had a very bad day –a “down” day is what I call them –and when my husband came home, the house was quite chaotic. I was ready to skip Family Home Evening (a weekly time for Families to learn and play together), and put the kids to bed early. My husband, knowing how lousy I would feel in the morning with such a house to clean, promptly took over. He started Family Home Evening, and told the children that our lesson that evening would be “10 minute clean-up” (this is where we turn on the timer and clean really fast for only 10 minutes, making it a “race” of sorts). By the time we had sung the song, prayed, cleaned up, played a quick game, and ate our ice cream, my Down Day was erased and I felt calm. This morning, as I woke up to a fairly clean home, I was able to start my day off right, without the stress of having to clean while getting the kids ready for school.
I know this experience probably had more to do with my husband’s love than a clean house, but isn’t it all connected? Love, cleanliness, peace…it all makes sense to me.
cheryl
May 13, 2008