We really do get to decide. Do we focus on the piles and the to-do lists and the tasks done imperfectly and someone needs to do them right? Laundry folded with the edges and tags sticking out is all wrong.
But back up.
And something else comes into focus.
In the scope of life, laundry done all wrong is still done.
Laundry not put away is still clean.
And suddenly I find myself a little more focused.
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Bev Duncan @ Walking Well With God says
Simple but great post…when my eyes are drawn to the clutter around my house, I can choose to look upward and focus on my Lord. The clutter takes me down…the Lord lifts me up. The choice should be clear!
Blessings,
Bev
Andrea says
Love this! That was my house last night! But only because I chose to play with my kiddos during the day! π
Lolu says
This is deep. “Dear Father, give me the strength to always choose to look to You in the midst of unwashed dishes, dirty toilets, a messed up room and even when work overwhelms me. Amen.”
Thanks for the post!
Linda Stoll says
once again, you’ve recalibrated and reframed the simplest of tasks. and made them holy.
Richella Parham says
Amen, girl. Amen.
What was that old saying? “The smallest good deed is better than the grandest intention,” I think it was.
Lisa-Jo @lisajobaker says
Preach
Kristen says
Thank you for this. Even the title of it spoke right.to.my.heart. I knew God was speaking to me as I had just felt some envy in my heart regarding someone else’s situation today. My focus needs to be straight forward, with eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith. Thanks for the reminder!
Chris Malkemes says
Beautiful! Beautiful! Beautiful! Thanks for seeing with open eyes and hearing with open ears. Take notice of the world around you and you will see He loves you just the way you are…laundry done or not done….it doesn’t matter. LOVE looks at the honest beauty of mismatched clothes, slobbering dog and lost shoe and laughs with joy because it’s abundant life. Good Job! Nester, good job.
Raina says
Thanks Nester! This post was enough to reel me in from the pit of self pity that I was getting ready to dive in. We’re closing on a lovely house on Monday and I just found out that we need to bring more money to settlement then expected. I sure did have plans for that money… I was going to knock down a wall, paint, install a shower and possibly drywall before we moved in. When I let my eyes look directly forward I can see that we will have a beautiful new house. We have enough money for closing and by faith everything I would like to have done to the house will be done in His time and not mine. Whew. Thanks for helping me get a grip.
The Nester says
so well said, congrats on the new house!!!
Andrea McCaskey says
Sooo grateful for this practical reminder that laundry not put away is still done! My 17 year old son and I say Thank You!!!
carol l says
Love this! I’ve been ‘training’ my 18 y/o (today!) teenager to do his laundry – let’s just say it’s a work-in-progress. Just “turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face; and the things of this earth will grow strangely dim (especially that laundry!), in the light of His glory and grace”. ;D
Seznie says
Thanks, thanks for the beautiful picture which caught my eye, thank you for the simple but important truth. Thank you for the fresh breath of pure air you gave me trough this post.
Be blessed wherever you are, Nester.
Bev says
I love the reminder to look up instead of around or down…thankyou!
Emily says
Love this!! Great reminder. Live the pictures to go with your devotion. Perfect way to describe it!
mom@lthfarm says
Thanks! Every mom needs to think about this every once in a while….get priorities in line! Thank you for the ‘gentle’ reminder! #Blessings! π
Erika says
I actually worry about things like tags and folds on the towels. And the towels are placed behind a door where no one but me cares where the tag is within the pile.
Great reminder to let the little things go and let tomorrow worry about tomorrow.
Ellie Spindler says
Loved the simplicity but the necessity of this post. What wonderful perspective. Thank you!! π
Beth Williams says
Awesome perspective. I, too often, focus on how well done a job is rather than it being done & rejoicing I the freedom I have.
Thank you for the reminder to look up & not around!
Lis says
Definitely love the simplicity.
Jess says
This verse is so comforting!
Weekend Links says
[…] I’m choosing to see my house differently–talking about that over here at (in)courage. […]
elle says
Thank you for this. I love what what you say about laundry not put away still being done. I will choose to look at my house differently too!
Wendy says
Oh Nester, These few words are like a salve to my soul! Last night our little church completed VBS with me acting like I know how to be a director…it’s been weeks of prepping and a full week of playing & teaching little ones about the love of Jesus! And as I walked away from our closing celebration last night, I walked into my home and could only see the utter disarray of my house. That tricky enemy wants me to see the mess around me, but your words this morning remind me of the precious children who gathered all week to sing praise songs & learn the wonderful stories of Jesus! Their favorite song? Choose Jesus! That’s what I’ll choose today too!! Thanks for reminding me…
Christie says
And would I even *need* to ask the Lord for heart help if things were perfect?! That is the gift of imperfection, to be content in our weakness.
Vivi says
Amen–and so hard to do!
Vivi says
“DONE” is so good! Often I find myself focusing on those very things you mentioned–crooked folds, tags hanging out… It does NOT matter! It’s truly a control issue. And we are not in control.
It definitely helps me to focus: on the BIG picture and then on one area and one thing at a time. Today I’m just working on the computer. The other stuff will get done eventually–or not. I remember my precious mother saying, “The next time around I’m going to take better care of myself and let the house take care of itself.” I do have to monitor that approach, however, because I veer from being so messy (not dirty, just m.e.s.s.y.) since I’m easily distracted to being a control freak. Thanks for the reminder and the visuals.
On making your house a home | perfectly unbalanced says
[…] read a small, but profound, post by The Nester on seeing your house differently, and I also read this post on embracing Wabi-Sabi. Both of these posts made me think about my […]
Alana @ Sparrow + Grace says
“In the scope of life, laundry done all wrong is still done. Laundry not put away is still clean.”
YES and Amen! This is what I keep trying to tell my hubby… π In all seriousness though, I think that many of the expectations we have, we put on ourselves. There is so much grace when we keep things in proper focus.
Katie says
One of my favorite quotes from Abraham Lincoln:
“Do we complain because rosΓ© bushes have thorns or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses?”
Rejoice!