Channeling my inner "Sandy".

As a housewife my job is to keep our home clean. If you came to our home, I think you would say it looks neat and clean, but the truth is, I have been horribly lazy in the actual cleaning department. I have gotten into the "wipe it down" habit. You know, where you just kind of wipe everything down as you go, sweep every couple of days and keep up with the laundry, but do not bust out the mop and really clean the house.

When I was recovering from surgery, out of necessity, I hired a wonderful college student named Sandy to clean the house. Wow! It was the best $50 spent. She cleaned like I never have! Grant walked in with amazement with how clean the home was after Sandy had been here. I found ways to work our monthly budget to have her come back again. Then the thoughts of, can we stretch things to have her come weekly, or bi-monthly? After all, she is a college student and needs the money. It will not just to help me, but really help her, right? Mind you, I am healed from surgery. I can hold my own in the gym again, so I can certainly hold a mop.

Then, reality hit that with a second preschool tuition being added to our monthly budget, spending money on such a luxury is just not possible. I kind of got a little pouty about it.

Today, after my husband had his quiet time, we talked about his own encouragement from the Lord to remember that we work for Him. Grant may have a boss to whom he is responsible, but his daily tasks are ultimately accountable to the Lord. It was with those words that I realized I had to change my outlook on, of all thing, cleaning our home.

What if I approached keeping this home clean as though I am doing it for the Lord first, and then my husband? In reality, this is Jesus' home. He provides it. He resides here. He allows me to stay home with our children and in turn, has made me responsible for keeping up with it. So, why am I trying to put my responsibility onto someone else? Why am I letting another woman's work please my husband? 

Today, I looked at housecleaning in the way, I assume, Sandy does. She comes and works for a few hours earning money for her hard word. It was not cumbersome. It became rewarding as the house is sparkling. When Grant gets home tonight he will be thrilled. There really is something great about walking into a clean home after a very long week at work.

Today, I cleaned like Sandy. And, it felt great!