Successful Homemaking with Toddlers: Is it Possible? Part 8
Last and most importantly, as we discuss successful homemaking with toddlers, I want to encourage all of you moms to keep your focus on Christ.It is so easy to get bogged down and overwhelmed with the stuff that motherhood is made up of. That's why I've found it imperative I keep my focus on Christ all throughout the day.
Pray while you wash dishes or fold laundry. Have Scripture verses posted on your walls. Keep devotional books handy to pick up when you have a minute and need some encouragement.
Play uplifting music throughout the day. Without even thinking about it, I will often find myself singing along as I'm working. Kathrynne loves to join in, too. What a great way to focus our hearts heavenward as we go about our daily lives!
Pray for needs as they arise. If I receive an email or phone call with a prayer need, I try to stop right then and lift that up to the Lord. I also try to stop and thank the Lord for the little and big things as they come up throughout the day--little victories in child training, answers to prayer, and so on. Usually the girls are at my side and we'll take just a moment to stop and thank the Lord for His goodness in this area.
In all you do, keep Christ at the center of your home and life.
I love this quote by Sally Clarkson from The Mission of Motherhood:
"In the end, what my children and husband need most from me is not a perfect home or perfect training or a perfectly spiritual role model or a wife without faults - but a mother and wife who is committed to doing whatever it takes to love them and make a home for them."
"Be not weary in well doing for in due season you shall reap, if you faint not."
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As a special treat, I compiled some of my favorite links, homemaking resources, our current daily schedule, and cleaning schedule into a file and you can download it here. Enjoy and be encouraged as you remember to keep your eyes on Christ and seek to honor Him and bless your husband and family. What works for our family and other families won't necessarily work for you so have freedom to glorify God in doing what works for you!
And I'd love to hear from all of you moms: what helps you keep your focus on Christ throughout the busyness of your day?
Graphic from AllPosters.com
Labels: Home Management and Organization
posted by Crystal Paine at 10:00 AM
7 Comments:
One thing that helps me is that I have scripture memory cards in a little card holder right above the sink. I switch the verses every so often, and it's great to meditate on them or try to memorize them while washing dishes.
Another is stopping to read my Bible or an encouraging book when I nurse the baby. It's such a good time to get in just a few minutes of reading, and it helps me to slow down and re-focus (as opposed to the times when I use nursing as a chance to moderate comments, write a post, etc.).
Like you, we also find that having worshipful music is helpful. My daughter is better at remembering than I am, and she will often say "Mama, we need to turn on some music!" The house feels so much more peaceful with worship music playing, even if it's just softly in the background, or louder when we really want to listen or sing along.
I've also started lately to use times like when I'm ironing my husband's work clothes or when I am kneading bread as a chance to listen to an encouraging podcast or mp3 sermon, or a Vision Forum CD, etc. It helps a tedious chore pass quickly, and it gives me an opportunity to listen to something that I might not otherwise have time for.
This has been a wonderful and encouraging series, Crystal! Thanks so much!
Hi Crystal,
Thanks for the Links. Did you mean LargeFamilyLogistics.net? I got something else when I tried .com. Thanks for the encouragement.
Thank you for taking the time to put together those forms. It is nice to see how another mom handles the cleaning and scheduling!
I love that final verse from Galatians... however, you know, it's funny... I never looked at it from a mothering & housewife perspective! I've always looked at it for doing the will of Christ etc etc... thanks for that! Suddenly, I have a new perspective. I love how my NIV bible puts it... "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Thanks again, Crystal, for all you do for us with this blog.My big struggle is with perfectionism... more posts on that topic would be gratefully appreciated by this mama of 5! Especially with the attitude I so easlily slip into of "Well, I can't get it done perfectly, so I won't bother"... and then I get all stressed out becasue my house isn't tidy. It's a vicious cycle, I tell you.
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much for the file of goodies. I'm excited about taking your cleaning schedule and modifying it a bit to fit my own home. I always seem to put everything off until Friday and then have to spend the entire day cleaning. I'm looking forward to implementing "a little bit everyday" schedule.
You, along with this blog and the MSM blog have been such wonderful blessings to me and to so many others. Thanks again!
Thanks for the links. I found the link to Jennie Chancey's notes very helpful. You are an encouragement to so many moms out there, Crystal. Keep up the good work!
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