“There is always the danger that we may just do the work for the sake of the work.

This is where the respect and the love and the devotion come in — that we do it to God, to Christ, and that’s why we try to do it as beautifully as possible.”  – Mother Teresa

Long-time readers here would know I am not a fan of separating the sacred and the secular.

That somehow our work is menial, but our worship is magnificent.  Our work is also our worship, and this is exactly how it should be.  We offer this one-pieced life, all of who we are and what we do, to the Creator who intended we do so.

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Several years ago a friend commented to me  how stay-at-home-moms shouldn’t be involved in ministry outside of the home as a way of living.  Oh dear – what about all those lovely pastors’ wives who are raising families?  Sigh.

Within the same week, another comment from a different source was received:  Moms should seek to balance their {boring, mundane} home lives with outside interests in order to keep happy.  What’s the message here?

Naturally, I’m not knocking hobbies or outings, etc. and I personally live the ‘ministry outside of the home’ lifestyle.

I am suggesting however, that there is no need to enshrine and overly revere our position as homemakers.  This practice of keeping house, of making home is honorable and holy — and so are other vocations.  Our work can be our worship.

There is also no need to demean our work.

In our busy and full days, especially at different times of the year, we feel the rush and the piling up of home-keeping tasks.  Our tendency will be to become overwhelmed.  For laundry piling high is quite daunting {especially if you don’t appreciate the task…ahem}.

Yet, we have this wonderful opportunity to create a nurturing and nourishing home for our families.  To create space for quiet from the world around us, for rest, for community and hospitality….for life.

If we can first respect our keeping house as sacred, and give ourselves over to it with devotion and love, this mentality shift will change our outlook and our days.  While I do advocate keeping it simple with household chores,

I equally support viewing these tasks as a gift, not only a list of things to be gotten through.

If you are a stay-at-home mom, this practice of keeping house will consume much of your time.  Yes, be effective. By all means, learn to be efficient in ways which bless you and your family.

But, give yourself over to doing this all with a deep sense of gratitude.  With an awareness of all you have been blessed with, in spite of the piles and messes, and never-ending smudges by 3-yr olds who use peanut butter as finger paint on various surfaces.

Oh I’m sorry, that’s probably just our family.  But I am incredibly grateful to have said 3-yr old in my life.

Keep home with care.  With love.  With a sense of awe.

For truly, the practice of keeping house is a gift.

{other posts in the practice of series}