Saturday, March 24, 2012

You Don't Want a Clean House

I have been working my tail off doing laundry, folding clothes, doing dishes, cooking, bathing little people, praying, hugging, crying, vacuuming, etc...
Our house is full of chicken pox germs. Ick. Everything needs to be cleaned. I thought about putting a for sale sign in our yard instead. 

I haven't left my house in DAYS except to go to the doctor's office. But, I don't care. Lake isn't in the hospital, he is singing again, and we are all together!! So, when I look around at my messy house that I have cleaned all day, I think of this verse:

"Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest."
Proverbs 14:4

Funny how much this verse is ENCOURAGING me. We are a bunch of mess-making oxen in a stable. Having a large family is hard. There are more messes, more sicknesses, more doctors visits, more fear, more food, more baths, more dishes, more everything
But without my oxen, my house would be clean.
I don't want a clean house all of the sudden.
I want my cute little messy oxen.
By God's grace (and if Tim and I survive these days with little ones) there will be a LARGE HARVEST for His Kingdom. This motivates me to keep cleaning the stable. Keep giving baths. Keep teaching them the Word. Keep praying my brains out.  

Tim and I are OFFICIALLY getting our butts kicked. We are shooting a flare gun toward heaven asking for help. It is hard not to feel defeated all the time because we can't seem to get "ahead". I thanked God in prayer the other night for how HE helped me get the kitchen clean before bed. I was so serious. To me, it was victory.

 It was God's grace in action...
helping me get our kitchen table cleaned off and the kitchen counters wiped down. 

But, I refuse to grow weary... because 


"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a HARVEST if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9

So, all you tired mommas out there, BE ENCOURAGED if your house is a wreck.
You don't want a clean house.
You don't want the latest trendy outfit.
You want A LARGE HARVEST.  
Keep pouring your life out into your husband and children. And, post Proverbs 14:4 up somewhere in the middle of your messy kitchen to help your see the BIG PICTURE.

Messy house= large harvest. 
We can do this. Keep it up.
:)
Be Blessed~
Steph



ps Please pray my babies don't get chicken pox.


5 comments:

Claire said...

I enjoy so very much reading your blog post! I pray that God will send you the perfect for your family live in full time nanny/helper....to make your life and your families life easier... Keep to the good work. You inspire many.

Ashley@The Vanilla Tulip said...

How have I never seen this verse before!??? THANKYOU for sharing it :)
It has encouraged me more than you know this afternoon. Praying the rest of your sweet babes don't get the pox!!! Hope your sunday was somewhat restful;)

Anonymous said...

Hang in there sweet girl! Keep the faith and remember this too shall pass. My mom raised 6 kids - all under the age of 9 which included a set of twins. You can do this and will one day feel the way she did once we were all grown. She looked at my dad and said "I wish all 6 of my kids were little and under my feet again."

-Teresa

Erin Lynn said...

You always help me see scripture in a new light! That verse is so helpful to me as I work part time and struggle with why we can't keep the house clean with our four. I am working with them on cleaning up after themselves, but, let me tell you, sometimes I look around and just shake my head at the mess. :) Erin

Marissa Writes said...

I just stumbled across your blog today and know I was meant to read this. I get so overwhelmed with keeping up appearances that I get depressed when it doesn't happen- my toddler throws a tantrum at the store causing angry glares to be shot my direction; as I'm sitting down to coffee with a friends a puff of dog fur blows across the floor.. the list goes on and on. Thank you for showing me where in His Word it says it's expected to let some things slack while I'm raising my little ones. So extremely grateful there are not words.