People vs. Couches

I've been thinking so very much about housework lately. Not in the sense of letting my To Do list digest me for lunch, but in how to have a priority shift so that I can be a free woman, not a slave. A few weeks ago I was having a miniature meltdown. I was crying and praying, "God, I do not have what it takes to be a mom. I can't keep up." It felt like I was treading water, trying to keep my head above. Too much to do. Days too short to accomplish everything, yet at the same time, too long because I couldn't wait for evening when I could lay my head on a cotton-filled cloud.

 As I knelt there in my living room, I felt the Holy Spirit say to me, "I never said, 'Thou shalt have a clean kitchen." I could feel His gentleness take a layer of weight off my back, yet I had to say it again, "I don't have what it takes..."

And He confidently responded, "Can you look your son in the face and tell him that he is valuable?"

Yes. I can do that. 

I feel like that interaction with His mindset has been a gust of wind carrying my heart further than any human words ever could. Divine interference. Like an echo, I have heard similar wisdom from other women that I respect. One said, "If all you do is clean your house for 30 years, do you know what you will have at the end of 30 years?....A clean house. That's it."

Another lady was telling me about how she had to make a mental shift when she got new couches. She loved her couches so much that she was starting to be angry at sticky-fingered children and sharp-clawed cats. She was becoming strict, and even not inviting certain people over. Then she decided to live with a new reality: people are more important than couches.

I thought that was a most beautiful thing to say. People are more important than couches. Riches and possessions are fleeting and are so easily damaged. What matters are hearts and souls.

People and moments and memories and laughing are the expressions of love which is the currency of another kingdom. Longer lasting than a swept floor and a clear counter. Obvious, yet too easily shadowed in a world of Better Home magazines. Another friend shared a quote with me, "If you want to see me, stop by anytime. If you want to see a clean house, make an appointment." I've been thinking lately that I would love to send out a general invitation that would allow people to call when they are 2 minutes away and say "I'm coming over!" And then, what you see is what you get. You are more important than my image. If you need me, my laundry can wait. I will learn to slow down and look in people's eyes.

We bought new couches and part of me hopes one of the boys spits up on them soon. Help me to remember this, Lord.