Thoughts on Making the [Church's] Bed

Ok, so once again my faults may benefit somebody else out there, so here goes.

A couple of weeks ago, when I first started this blog, I published my cleaning/chore list for the week, the days I would do them, etc.

I fail pretty often, and this is one of those times.

And here are my concluding thoughts as we read "Chore List's Obituary."

Dear Chore List,
It's not you, it's me. Well, really, it's my husband. You see, he doesn't care about you. At all. He doesn't care if the bathroom floors are scrubbed every week. He doesn't care how I organize things, as long as I know where they are. He doesn't care which days I do laundry, clean the bathtub, or bathe the dog. And so, I must lay you to rest for the sake of my family.
Sincerely, Me

Here was the problem. I love a clean home (reference my very first post). That's not the problem. The problem was, I thought in my mind that I was serving my family in the best way by giving them a clean home at all times. But, I was only serving me. My sons and husband do not care about cleanliness as much as I do. They don't want to live like slobs (obviously), but my cleanliness was interfering with my ability to serve them in the ways they would appreciate more, and not ways I would appreciate more.

For example, my husband likes when I actually shower, get dressed, and do my hair and makeup for the day (Imagine that!). The problem was, on heavy cleaning days, I would get distracted and he would come home and I would still be in what I affectionately call my work clothes, and what the rest of the world calls sweatpants.

And so, I have now resolved to be more flexible in my cleaning (by throwing out the schedule) to better serve my family & husband by actually getting ready every day and not worrying about super perfect cleanliness.

NOW.

Let me leave you with this charge.

In what ways are you clinging to a chore list in your home life or church life?

What areas are you serving in? Are you doing it because you think it serves other people, but it's really only serving yourself?

Open your eyes. Look around. What are the real needs of the people closest to you? What would they like in the way of service? Ask them. What does God require in the way of service? Ask Him.

This is a tricky one, because in many ways we think we are serving God and others, when really we are just serving in the way we like to serve. Ouch. Chew on that for a while.

If we are not willing to lay down or effectively kill our chore lists for the sake of our families, then our chore lists have become our idols. If we are not willing to be flexible and adapt to the ever-changing needs of our families and church bodies, then what type of service is that? I'll tell you -  Idol worship.

And that's hard to hear, because many of us like to serve, which is a good thing. The problem comes when our service becomes our ultimate thing that we are finding value and worth in. If you cannot lay your service down and walk away from it, then it's a problem.

So go re-evaluate your life and your service. Ask your family and your church in what ways you can serve them best. And if you need to, kill your chore list.

Don't stop serving, but maybe tweak it a little so you're more bearable to those around you.

At the very least, get dressed for the day.