I am so excited about the topic of our study this week! I think, right now, this is where I need the most help. If you read my last post, you understand that I have a hard time keeping our home and need help in figuring it out! God really knew that I needed this this week. I have such a struggle with getting things done. I am lazy and unmotivated and get tired very quickly. I also get distracted very easily. Usually once I get in the groove I am good. So it's getting that motivation to start!
Amy says, "We are to succeed despite difficulty and hardship and we already know the only way we can succeed in spite of hardship is to put God first before everything else." I love this statement! But it is so hard to put into practice!
1) God set things up to operate effectively and efficiently and we can learn from his example.
God created seasons and your home also functions in seasons. Amy used the examples that we only shovel snow in the winter and cut the grass in the spring and summer. We are also in seasons when it comes to the age of our children. Right now we do not have kids in our house full-time. When we have a baby life will become much different and our list of things will change.
2) Plan but don't let it rule your life. Use it as a tool.
This is great! A schedule can be very useful but it can also hinder us. What if you have planned to clean the bathroom but it just stopped raining and your children want to splash in the puddles and look at the rainbows? What do you do? Well, I know that I wouldn't miss a chance to splash in the puddles and share one of God's miracles with my children. Don't become a robot and be flexible. Use it as a guideline. A schedule and a plan is especially helpful when your life becomes stressful and you need help putting one foot in front of the other. You don't need to come up with a new cleaning schedule everyday. It's already there. This is where a household management binder comes in very handy. I'm still working on putting one together for my household.
3) A good manager delegates responsibilities accordingly.
Many women have problems with this. I do. Especially since we think that since our job is keeper of the home, it all falls on us. We are allowed to have help. From our children and from our husband. We should take into account though all the work outside the home that our husbands do. So we shouldn't boggle them down with a "honey-do" list. But I'm sure they would be happy to help every once in awhile. And children definitely need to learn how to contribute to a well-ran household. If you don't teach them, then who will. They will grow up and not know how to do anything. I'm sure they will learn, but their learning curve will be significant.
Amy says, "Your job as manager is simply to make sure the household functions and sustains life - to the best of your ability.
Scripture for Memory
Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
-2 Corinthians 7:1
For Study Purposes:
Right now, write down the "to do" list in your head. Tonight you are to get a good night's sleep! :) Done!
Devise a plan of attack for your home. It should contain seasonal chores or tasks as well as daily tasks. Will work on this!
Ask God to show you ways to run your home more efficiently. Seek to solve at least one problem area this week. Dishes is a big problem in my house. I hate them! And I don't have a dishwasher (well I guess it's me!). I need to figure out a better way to get them done and realize that they have to be done no matter what!
Questions to ponder: Has housework become a source of validation for you? A source of pride? If so, how do you intend to change that? Housework has become a source of pride for me when my husband praises me on a job well done. I need to work on me not needing his praises for something I should be doing anyways. I am doing it for the Lord and for him.
I hope you enjoyed this week's study! Please go visit Amy to join or view other participants' responses!
Posts
A schedule works great. Just don't try to do everything in one day and things won't seem so overwhelming.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great advice! I need to try and break it down. I think it is the same for exercise :)
ReplyDeleteOne step at the time is the only way to keep going - especially when things you need to do get boring because it's the same old stuff day after day. No wonder it gets tough sometimes - but you can probably always make another baby step... and be thankful for everything you've managed to accomplish.
ReplyDeletei really enjoyed reading this post, great advice, thank you
ReplyDeleteI am a pretty well organised person and try to organise my workload in order of importance. It is nice that you use the Bible as a reference too as it can give you inspiration and motivation.
ReplyDeleteI'm a big fan of delegation. There's no reason why the burden should lie with one person.
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely great to break things down and take it one day at a time, and it's always great a great feeling to know that God knows where you struggle.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, thank you. I'll have to check out her site. You are right that a cleaning schedule has to be flexible, especially when the children come. When you get your binder done, would you consider posting your cleaning schedule and what sections you have in it? I always like looking at other peoples. My cleaning schedule is under "schedules" or something on my blog if you're interested.
ReplyDeletewhat a great post. i struggle with keeping up my house as well. with my weird work schedule, it can be hard. i definitely need to make more of a defined schedule here at home.
ReplyDeleteHaving a plan always help. However, as you mentioned, do not let the plan run your day; just use is as a guide.
ReplyDeleteGet site.
Mom found the best thing to do is take it one hour at a time!! She some times makes a list and follows it!! Hope you figure it all out! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYour FL furiends,
I need to keep close tabs on #2. A plan is great as long as you don't let is rule your life. Very true-
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chronicles of what you're going through and handling these tough times! Personally I'm praying (literally) that come 2009 slowly but surely change will happen for the better. We've all just go to be patient - it's a virtue after all :)
ReplyDeleteAmy has given you some very good advice.
ReplyDeleteI like that you already know to go outside and jump in the puddles and look at rainbows! Sometimes it's very difficult to leave the necessary chores to have fun with the kids... but you create lifelong memories by doing just that :)
I was so excited reading through your post! You "get" it!
ReplyDeleteTime management is actually one of the biggest problems that I face and God has so diligently been dealing with me in this area for a few weeks now. I've let go of a few things that took up time and wasn't God's perfect will for my life. Things have been a changin' ever since!
Thanks for the great post!