{This is more a pep talk for myself than anything, but maybe a few of you can relate!}
I rolled out of bed the other day…later than I had planned on…and realized I should change everyone’s sheets in the house.
But I REALLY didn’t want to.
The laundry basket next to the bed was full of clean clothes from the night before.
I wanted to walk right past them. I’ve done that more times than I care to admit.
This pile of dishes…
They just never seem to go away unless I do something about them.
You know why?
Cleaning those dishes is part of my job.
When we decided I would stay home – something I had wanted for years – it wasn’t so I could sit around and drink coffee and shop and read blogs all day.
That does sound lovely, though, doesn’t it?!
The Hubby is a doctor. I am a homemaker.
His job is to treat and take care of sick people. My job is to make our house a home and care for those within it.
When the dryer buzzes, it buzzes for me. The children will eventually run out of clean underwear if I don’t answer that buzzer. If I forget to change the sheets, they will still need to be changed the next time I walk by them. And the dishes…you saw that pile in the picture above!
Let me state this for the record: I have a VERY helpful husband around the house. He will do dishes, fold clothes, even clean the bathrooms and more when he is home and has the time. He is awesome like that. But he has another job and that job is time-consuming hard work.
The job of a homemaker may seem mundane, tedious, and insignificant at times, but in the eyes of our families, it is extremely important, whether they say so or not!
And when I work harder to keep the house clean and inviting on a regular basis, I actually enjoy our house more!
I love the feeling of clearing the counter in the kitchen. I love sitting down to watch TV with The Hubby at the end of the day in a clean living room. I love being able to say yes to company at the last minute without needing to frantically clean up!
I just need a little help to stay motivated throughout the week!
During school last year, this verse was posted above Big J’s desk…
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. ~Colossians 3:23
Now it is my turn to post this verse in a visible place and remember that everything I do around this house can and should be done to the glory of God.
Yes, even cleaning those dirty dishes!
Because the care and maintenance of this home is my job.
And I love my job 🙂
What do you love about your job?
Linking up with Women Living Well Wednesday and…
I'm Erin, a wife, boy mom x 3, writer, and runner in Nebraska! I'm excited to share all my favorites relating to faith, family, fashion, and fitness in this space! Enjoy! 
I love knowing that I am making a difference in the lives of my guys!
Yes! Love that!
That verse has run through my mind many times during my daily tasks. What a great reminder here, that we can do all things to the glory of God. That really fits in with our approach over at The High Calling, where we emphasize the ways that God is involved in even the ordinary-ness of our daily work. You’ve given us that reminder here.
– Jennifer Lee
Contributing Editor, TheHighCalling.org
Thank you for your sweet comment, Jennifer! And thank you for what you do at The High Calling! To God be the glory in it all!
THANK YOU so much for this. I get into a “funk” every now and then, where homework just doesn’t seem fulfilling, where the laundry and dishes and cleaning are absolutely overwhelming.
But that’s because I’m not focused on WHO I’m supposed to be doing it for.
Yes, it’s my job–and it’s also an act of praise and worship for my Creator.
Thank you for this reminder!!
Yes! We worship our Creator through our work! Love it!
I agree with everything written above AND I appreciate the motivating reminder this gorgeous Monday morning. I love clean sheet day 🙂
Clean sheets are so lovely 🙂
Thanks for the reminder! I too sometimes get into that same funk…but like you have to stop and take a step back and remember that God has blessed us with these 4 little munchkins and a wonderful hubby…this is my job…my calling..what I am supposed to do. I know as our kids become more capable of doing things, things around the house will get easier…I can already see that happening!
“My calling” – definitely! And I am so thankful that God made it possible for me to follow that calling!
Clean sheets? Oh my I just can’t get happy about changing the top bunk!!!! But I do love a cleaned off kitchen counter. For the few minutes it lasts. When my big dining room table is free of clutter it’s like…amazing. I love being home with the kids. I love homeschooling. I love my job, even if it goes unnoticed around here sometimes. I know someone else is watching me. He sees my job is of great value! Keep it up Erin, I’m sure you are doing great!
Great reminder! So often mothering is done in the hidden places (as Ann Voskamp says) and I was reminded this week that these “foot washing” tasks are important and holy too.
I love that I get to see my kids for more than a few minutes in the morning and a few hours each night. That we’re building quality memories and working on character far more than what was ever worked on my own.
Jesus didn’t begrudge washing the disciples feet – that’s something a servant takes joy in doing. Yet so often we begrudge our blessing of a home, family, etc. Lord give me a thankful heart !!
Of course, I’m reading this at 11 o’clock, after having spent 2 hours organizing the school room, feeling like not getting very far, and now setting down to fold the laundry. I could complain. But the satisfaction that comes from doing diligently as God has called me to do – it out weighs the groans! Thank you for this reminder. Yes, the motivation takes its time coming sometimes, but I am so thankful for this job! :0)
I love your heart for your family! I dread changing sheets, especially on the bunk bed, but I know it needs to be done. That’s how a job is. You do it because it needs to be done. Thanks so much for this encouragement to be faithful in our work. Blessings to you!
If this is truly your calling why all the moaning about it?.
Do you enjoy the constant reassurance from strangers that you are doing a worthwhile job?.
Why the need to post pictures of your dirty dishes?.
Maybe a break from the Internet would give you more time for your housework.
Why do people feel the need to parent via blog land?.
Hire a cleaner if you don’t enjoy housework.
I’m sorry you read this post as me moaning about my calling! That was not my intention at all. I try to be real on this blog and not pretend that things are perfect all the time, and sometimes chores aren’t fun! With that said, I DO enjoy being a homemaker as I said in this post and I am trying my best to do it with a cheerful attitude! I was not looking for validation in any way, but hoped some other moms might feel encouraged if they feel the same way sometimes! And my home and family do come before the internet. When they don’t, I do take a break to regain perspective! Thank you for your thoughts this morning! God bless!
Sara,
I work outside of the home & I can assure you that I don’t enjoy every aspect of my job every single day.
I complain about my coworkers. I complain about my workloud. I complain about the crick in my neck from staring at a computer screen. I post pictures of my desk because that’s where I look every day, it’s what is before me & I enjoy sharing my life with others. Also, I wouldn’t be doing my job if I delegated every task to someone else.
& I sure wouldn’t be employed very long.
The grass always looks greener & I’m always curious about it. Sometimes I long to be more than a breadwinner, more than the mother kissing her kid goodbye at daycare. I wonder if anyone notices the hard work I pour into my career as both mom & computer nerd.
To me, this is what Erin is saying – this is her job. She knows it’s her job & most of the time, she does find her calling in it. But there are moments when it is hard & she does need encouragement, just like the rest of us. I’m lucky that I have a boss to pop in & pat me on the shoulder for a job well done. As a stay at home momma, I imagine that Erin doesn’t often get fist bumps unless it comes from reassurance from strangers.
That doesn’t make her weird or parenting via blogland. It makes her normal & transparent.
Erin, I adore this post. You did a beautiful job of simply speaking to the heart of a woman.
Love this post and your blog! Just what I needed to hear:)
I can’t believe you took a picture of your dishes! I have thought about doing that, but then I always go to “What would my MOTHER say??” I heard you — sometimes I do wish I could sit around and blog all day, but alas, homemaking is my job and I am very glad I am able to be home with the kids all day. Great post!
Thank you for this post! I’m in the midst of laundry and dishes on this sunny saturday and I don’t have a lot of desire to “go to work”.
This is one of my favorite verses in this season of life…
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. ~ Galatians 6:9
I actually just wrote about it on my blog this week!
Thank you for reminding me of how important my job is. 🙂
I always loved this plate that used to hang above our sink as a teenager – Thank God for dirty dishes. They have a story to tell. While other may go hungry you are eating very well.
Ooh! I like that! Thanks for sharing!
I get frustrated with all my home duties from time to time (and am currently at that point right now). Thank you for reminding me that my husbands job is outside the home, and mine is inside. Cleaning up the messes and handling the day to day things around the house is the job I chose.