Sticking to a schedule can be hard to do. Especially when you feel like you just can’t get ahead. As hard as you try you are moving in slow motion. That’s what I’m struggling with. I feel like I am the proverbial chicken with it’s head cut off. I have been trying to clean my house for over a week. Each night I sit down with my planner and schedule for the next day and have everything all set as to what I’m going to get done tomorrow and here lately it’s just not happening. It seems there is always something that is coming up that is more important than mopping my kitchen floor and cleaning the hardwoods on the first floor.
I am starting this week out again with a purpose and schedule as to when I am fitting in cleaning my bathroom and my kitchen and everything else around here. I think my cats are brushing themselves and just throwing up the cat hair in the living room to see how long it will take to cover the couch. Cat couch motif the newest rage.
There’s one thing that came to my mind this morning. My Aunt Lori. She passed away and battled cancer for I think as long as I’ve known her. She’s seen the inside of more hospitals than even seems humanly possible. One thing she said to me while she was here. She said “God didn’t put me here to clean.” I always thought no he didn’t but keeping everything tidy and clean is just something you need to make sure that gets done. I didn’t understand what she was saying until here recently when my Dad got sick. God didn’t put her here to clean. She was in and out of so many hospitals that when she was home and feeling good that woman was on the go. She was selling things at festivals, she was cooking for other people, she was always helping at church. She was just always doing when she could be doing. She loved to fish and I think she was the first person who took JT fishing. She lived across the field from me( we live in the middle of a farm) and when JT was maybe in kindergarten he got mad packed a suitcase and ran away from home. To her house. He came back after dinner. When he got older and needed to talk to someone that wasn’t me he would go over and talk her ear off. She would do anything for you. I can’t tell you how many times I called her at 7am and told her I couldn’t drive because I had a migraine. Would she please take JT to school for me. She never once made me feel like it was an imposition or I was a bother or for Lord’s sakes it’s 7am can’t you find someone else. She would simply say I got it. What time do I need to be there. She was always helping anytime she could. She would also tell you just what she thought and how things ought to be done. She didn’t have time to mince words. I think she was so outspoken because she never knew when she was going to be sick again and wanted everyone to be clear on who she was, what she said and how she felt. If she had an opinion you were going to know it. Whether you liked it or not. That is why she was so loved. That is why I miss her so much.
So I’m thinking she heard it directly from God. He didn’t put her here to clean. He put her here to serve. What do you want people to think about when you come to mind? Oh, she has an immaculate house. Her yard is to die for. Yes, all those things are great and I’m not saying you should live in squaller. What I am saying is who cares if my kitchen floor needs to be mopped. My bathroom needs a good wipe down. I haven’t been deadheading my Petunias and they are looking pretty rough on the front porch. I would rather be a Lori than making sure my house was sparkling when people came in the front door. Those things aren’t going to matter in the end. Your relationships will matter.
My family, my whole family, is coming in town this weekend and a good majority of them are staying at my house. I hope I get to clean before they come but if I don’t get things looking great and have meals for them this weekend everyone is just going to have to understand. My sister is getting married this weekend. That’s what’s important. Spending time celebrating her marriage. Getting my Dad to his appointments this week. That’s what’s important. JT is having his tonsils removed on Thursday. I’m going to need to take care of him and make sure he is comfortable and healing.
So as I look at my planner this week I have everything scheduled out. I got on the treadmill this morning and spent time with God. Taking care of myself and spending time with God are a must. I can’t help anyone else if I’m not taking care of myself physically and spiritually. I wrote down clean the bathroom then I have to take a shower and get out of here on time to get to my Dad’s for his first Dr. appt. today. So if the only thing that doesn’t get done is I have to put off cleaning the bathroom till tomorrow it will be a succesful day. I don’t think God put me here to clean either. He put me here to serve. I pray he gives me a serving heart like Lori.
Wonders of 1 Woman 