Hi Moms,
Has anyone else noticed a very odd cycle in mainstream modern society? We bemoan having to work so much, yet we constantly buy things that fill up our homes, so we purge and declutter, taking boxes to donate, and yet the cycle never seems to stop.
We almost seem addicted to stuff. And I’m not pointing fingers. My home has a fair number of things in it, including a bag of things to donate to the thrift shop, at this very moment.
Not only are we tied to a whole lot of things, but our schedules are packed to the brim. We run around like a hen with a coyote in the chicken coop most of the time. No wonder so many of us are tired, exhausted, stretched tight, and ready to snap. And even if we think disorder and chaos don’t bother us, they do.
I’ve always said, “A little bit of clutter doesn’t bother me. I can’t stand dirty, but I don’t mind stuff.” Some of you cringed when you read that, while others of you just hollered, “Amen, sister!”
That’s how my home has rolled—reorganizing areas of disorder and clutter, dusting and wiping up the crumbs with a daily sweep of the main floor. When things are really hectic, sometimes that includes shoving a pile to the side to find enough room to work and getting done the must-haves.
My home would never have been on an episode of Hoarders, but it certainly wouldn’t have been gracing any magazine features that showcase neat and tidy living. In the back of my mind as I sat down to work was the knowledge that I needed to tackle my computer desk, the laundry room, and other areas niggled like a stray hair down my back.
Nothing will dissuade you from doing something faster than knowing that you have to first clean off an area before you even begin.
With all of our modern conveniences it’s been estimated we have the equivalent of several servants. We can wash our clothes with the flip of a switch, clean our dishes with the push of a button, and throw our supper into a slow cooker and have dinner ready when we walk through the door. In other words, we have it pretty good compared to life hundreds of years ago.
Yet many of us struggle with too much stuff, the feeling of never having enough time, and the sensation of drowning in our to-do lists. We run from one thing to the next, with always the threat of needing to do more looming over our heads like a buzzing fly.
We’ve forgotten the art of enjoying the moment and being satisfied with less.
There are many articles and books out there on decluttering, but what I’ve found is we need to truly decide what it is we prioritize in life and match our actions to it; Mom, this is what I pray for you this year.
Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:33-34
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Melissa K. Norris inspires people’s faith and pioneer roots with old-fashioned skill sets and wisdom featured in her books, blog, and podcast. She lives in the foothills of the North Carolina mountains with her husband and two children.
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