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!
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