Worry

Over the course of the last 14 weeks, homeschooling has felt like we have a newborn in our home.

Suddenly, I have a tight schedule to keep and I am no longer shopping alone. But the hardest thing for me to handle is the mess. The toys that are all over. The dishes of three meals at home. The papers that used to come home in the afternoon backpack are now all over my desk. 

There is never a moment when my entire house is clean, all at the same time.

And it's driving me crazy. 

This was especially true the week before Thanksgiving, when my inability to keep order turned me into a shrew.

Then, during our Thanksgiving break, as if Mrs. Moofish knew that I needed a reality check, she sent me a copy of Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, by Joann Weaver.

And let me tell you I NEEDED to read this book. 

In the third chapter there is an assignment to re-write Matthew 6: 25-34 according to what your worry is at the moment, and then write a prayer. (If  you're not familiar with this verse, go check it out at the link above.)

I thought I would share mine and then encourage you to do the same if there is something you are worried about today. 

~~~~

Therefore I tell you,do not worry about a clean house, what people will say when they see laundry on your couch; 

or how many dog hairs you see gathered on the floor.

Are not the people in your life more important 

than assuaging your high need for order?

Look at the birds of your nest. 

They flitter from here to there and squawk and sing; 

making great messes and yet, the Heavenly Father loves them.

There is nothing more valuable than they.

Can you make your home cleaner by being a grouch?

And why do you worry about what others may think?

Do you see the trees in your yard?

They drop their leaves when the weather turns cold, and yet nobody comes by to pick them up. Yet I tell you, in the spring the green leaves will come and 

by summer there will be no sign of the fall.

If the God of all order can use the mess of the autumn to bring the fullness of spring, 

can He not bring order into your heart?

O you who sets her sights (and heart) on things that bring false security.

So, do not worry, saying "My life is out of control!" or 

"When will I have time to do the laundry?!" or

"What if someone comes over and the floors have not been swept?!"

For people who don't understand that God is in control worry over dust and dirt;

and He understands the importance and practicality of a clean house.

But, God is saying to you, 

"Seek My house first. Seek Me and all these thing will find their place.

Delegate and don't worry about the dishes being put in the wrong cupboard.

Assign jobs and don't worry about the whites being turned pink.

 

Tackle a load of laundry today, and don't worry about tomorrow."

For each day has enough laundry of it's own.

~~~~~~~

Lord, I pray you will order my day. And that I would not resist you. 

I know nothing good comes from chasing order for the sake of order, 

at the cost of a kind and gentle disposition. 

Help me to seek You first, 

and allow all other things to be an outflow of your awesome love for me 

and those around me.

Amen.