As a wife, mom, and woman I have a great desire to provide a clean and safe home for my husband and children. Sometimes I get so caught up in all that needs to be done in the house that I neglect spending time with my family. Often our family time becomes nothing more than working together so that the neatness of the house can meet my expectations. My confinement to bed has helped me to realize that everything does NOT have to be perfect in my home in order for my family to be happy, healthy and safe. This week David and Caleb have kept up with the cleaning and laundry. While not done to my standards the work is getting done and isn’t that all that matters?
Verse: Moses’ father-in-law (Jethro) relied, “what your are doing in not good. Your and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.” (Exodus 18:17-18)
Moses was doing everything for the people. He was wearing himself out trying to be everything to everyone. The passage goes on with Jethro suggesting that Moses train others to complete task and delegate certain task to others who are capable.
I am lucky that my David is my helpmate and that I do not have to delegate stuff to him. David does not see himself as one who is above doing housework or caring for children. During our 19 years of marriage he has always helped with household chores. Caleb on the other hand has to be told what to do, how to do it and when to do it. I need to delegate more chores to Caleb. He is old enough and capable enough to do more around the house than he currently does.
I have made housework a bigger issue than it needs to be. I don’t want to wear myself or my family out. I need to adjust my standards a little so that we can all have more time to just enjoy being a family and less time doing household chores. I believe that even with relaxed expectations the house can still be clean. Maybe with relaxed expectations on my part we can all be a little happier.
When I am able to work around the house again, I will try to do it in a more relaxed manner with relaxed expectations. I am a little on the OCD side when it comes to things like this so it will not be easy, but I will try.