Tuesday 28 August 2012

Nifty Notion #1: Sweeping the Room with a Glance


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No, this is not a joke. Neither is it really a cleaning tip. What it is though, is a necessary place my heart had to come to - in order to love and accept myself right here where I am at.

It is permission to not be okay. Authorization to acknowledge a day that is just plain ‘blah’; to sit and listen to music, to sew, to read a good book, to put my feet up, to ignore the housework. Why? There are days, dear friends, when my body (and possibly yours) just needs to rest. Pushing myself to achieve things on those days would only result in being extra useless for the next few.

With a certain amount of awe, I have listened to other women discussing how long it takes to clean their houses each day. The sheer number of tasks they can achieve.  My comparing mind works overtime, soon leading to frustration. Discouraged I focus on the negative and forget to see the positive.  I become depressed.

But this is not God’s plan for my life. While we are called to be good stewards of all that He has given us, He does not intend for us to be overwhelmed by it.

Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”(NIV)

Consider the story of Mary and Martha.

Luke 10:38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”(NIV)

This passage is not suggesting we should never do housework (wouldn’t we all love a verse like that!). Elsewhere Martha is acknowledged for her contribution.  But Jesus clearly states that it is not the be all and end all.  

Today, if it is not possible to be a Martha, be a Mary. Sweep the room with a glance and rest at Jesus feet.  


8 comments:

  1. I love this! I've had to learn how to sit back and rest when my body needs it, and let the housework (etc) wait for a good day. It's surprisingly difficult, but worth it when you get that needed rest time.

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    1. I know right? you'd think it would be easy. The battle for me is very much in my head and learning to just accept that this is how it is. Bless you heaps :o)

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  2. To do what you are called to do is a joy....sweeping aside the pressing events which always will get done but are crowding our vision for the day.

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    1. So true! thanks for commenting, blessings :o)

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  3. This exact thing has been so heavy on my heart this past week, as I create a new Fall routine, school schedules and on and on, I have had to ask, why do I push myself so hard when I'm so tired? This was beautiful!

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    1. Just took a peek at your blog and I just wanna give you a big hug! Got a bit choked up at your family pic. When I was 7 my father was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia. We had family photos taken just in case they were our last. God has blessed us - 24 years later he is still struggling with his health, but he is here.

      I don't pretend to know exactly what you are going through but I will pray for you. Rest in Him!

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  4. I loved this post! Beautiful writing and something I will keep. Actually I have had one such of these weeks (why I am slow to do emails ;) I have had lots of tasks before me and have had to do what I can each day and then sometimes just rest. I can so relate to this, as it's very rare if I have a day where I can just whisk through tasks quickly it always amazes me. Usually I am slow like a snail. In fact my fiance would prob. tell you I am the slowest person he knows when it comes to getting cleaning done haha. Wish I was one of those power house women, but you are right - it's good to just do what we can and not worry about it.

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    1. Been having one of those weeks myself, a major thing for me has been learning not to compare - bless you heaps :o)

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