Life Is Messy, Keep Cleaning It Up
I did not initially plan on taking a hiatus from blogging these past few weeks. Life, however, has a way of bringing to the surface the issues that need to be worked through. The house always seems a mess, no matter how often it gets cleaned. Relationships constantly need work in order to continue growing together. Having poor reactions to circumstances has a way of reminding us how often we have to make a conscious decision on what attitude and reaction we’re going to have when events happen that are outside of our control.
At the end of the day, what do you want to be remembered for? Your kindness toward others or the to-do list checked off at the expense of having quality relationships? Now, I’m not saying to avoid all responsibility, but to prioritize in the moment what will have the greater lasting impact. Dishes will always need to be done, but there are times when it is more important to discuss with your spouse (or family and friends) the problems that arise and work on communicating more effectively with each other.
In addition to working on relationships, I’ve also been convicted of needing to be a better steward of the things we have and to enjoy the space we’re in during this season of life. When we’re surrounded by clutter, it creates mental chaos; this in turn makes it harder to relax or to have the time to make memories with those you love. I’ve tackled cleaning the bedroom and gave away several bags of clothes and shoes I no longer had a use for. It’s freeing when you begin to have control over your things instead of your things controlling you. I finally made a decision on a new vacuum cleaner and it has made tidying up our house so much easier. I spent a weekend decluttering half of the study in order to prepare for installing our new bookcases. Walking into that space now brings a smile to my face and joy to my heart instead of feeling overwhelmed and discouraged by the mess.
As my husband and I continue to work on these areas of our life together, the process can be painful, especially when we have very different opinions on certain things. However, by taking the time now to lay a good foundation, I am certain that the future results will be worth it. Life is messy, but it is totally worth the effort to keep cleaning it up!
Speaking of messes, I am happy to announce that at least half of our study has been decluttered and looks amazing now that we finally installed our new bookcases! I’m very grateful my dad was able to come over and help us … it was an all-day event!
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