Monday, December 08, 2008

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.

16 comments:

Amy said...

WOW!!!!!!! I can't believe it. This is me and I am this. You have no idea how much I needed this this very morning. Thank you so much for being in tune to our Heavenly Father; He gave you a word just for me. Have a blessed day.

mer@lifeat7000feet said...

Okay...that was for me. Thank you.

Shelley @ My Treasure Hunt said...

Okay that was good. I read that book several years ago, when I was single. I am thinking I need to pull it out and read it again...being home all day can certainly be rough on the looks of a house...sometimes I just feel like I am running around in circles, constantly working but not getting anything done! Thanks for sharing that!

hav2sing said...

That is AWESOME!!!!!!!

I wish I could type that bigger, in color, with BOLD type!

Thank you so much for sharing it, and methinks that book will go up a bit in number at Amazon!
* * *
And yes, I've plans to post the recipes with the photos... but need to figure out why my card reader doesn't want to play with my pc -- though now I have another (3rd) hard drive, and software has been reinstalled, I can reinstall the photo reader and do that.

But -- it will have to be on Sunday afternoon. TGC Concert is this weekend, and I have many cookies to (bake) & catch up with! ;-)
* * *
... and, as of yesterday, I'm in a new quartet :D :D
x

Blue Skies said...

Wow. Awesome. God has been dealing with me on similar issues regarding homeschooling. This morning he gave me this verse, as I was opening the refrigerator (I have no idea why it was then!) - "Do not grow weary in doing good" It is from Galatians 6:9 and the rest of the verse says "for in due time we will reap if we do not give up". A great verse for a homeschool parent. I hope it encourages you a little today too.

Mrs. Moofish said...

Amen and AMEN! (Especially, the each day having enough laundry of it's own!;) The book has been seriously speaking to me, too! Love you!

Woman Interrupted said...

Your words have fed me today!

I want healthy priorities AND a clean house. But if I can't have both today, then I'll forgo the clean house.

Tanya said...

This is really great. Thank you. I've been meaning to get that book for a while. My problem, though, is that I tend to be unbalanced the other way -- too much Mary and not enough Martha. My husband would love to have a little more Martha in his wife. :)

Anonymous said...

I love this post. It applies to me as well, except the dog hair! :) It just goes to show how much we all struggle with the same things. K2

Anonymous said...

Wow, this is such a great post!

Michelle@Life with Three said...

This was fantastic! And exactly what I needed to hear at the moment. Thanks so much for sharing it, Kellie.

Tiffani said...

Oh, today especially I needed this!!!

We have been living in a 2 bedroom duplex for just shy of a year since we sold our home. I am DESPERATE to move...homeschool stuff MUST be moved in order for us to eat any meals or walk around the kitchen...every nook and cranny is filled with clothes, junk, STUFF STUFF STUFF..I have purged several times, only to feel overwhelmed again.

so, I needed to hear this...I feel very worried about numerous things...and this is perfect focus and direction for my thoughts and prayers!!

Rae said...

This is the most amazing inspirational thing I have read in a long time. I sincerely thank you, Kellie!

jen said...

Wow! Great job! Thank you!

I've had a few people ask me lately how homeschooling is going, and I just laugh! The truth: The homeschooling is going well; it's everything else that is making me nuts, because the hs-ing affects it all. Like you said there's papers on the desk and undone dishes in the sink and a house unclean. I'm just not sure how to fit it all in and how to balance my most important job with all the other things that need to get done!

Thank you for the reminder of God's grace and being real enough to share this!

Michele said...

Unfortunately the feeling of the whole house not being clean at the same time is all too familiar to me. It just comes with the territory. You know what though, my kids and hubby could care less? It is a me issue, that is sometimes hard to get past. This is such an encouraging post. Thank you so much. I actually have that book. I really need to read it. Thanks again!!

Chel said...

That book is wonderful. I want my house all pretty and neat. But it isn't. And in all honesty, I'd rather play with my kids than clean. And in my heart, I really believe (or maybe I just hope really hard) that when they grow up, they'll remember the fun we had and it will be more important to their souls than a clean house would have been.