I love a clean home. I love organization. The Container Store, Ikea, stores I look forward to browsing. I love having "a place for everything, and everything in it's place." But, life doesn't often work out that way. That is even more evident after having children.
I walked in to my kitchen the other day and the first thing I noticed was my messy stove. I really don't like a messy kitchen. To be honest, I don't really like messy anything. But as I looked at my messy stove and started to complain in my head, God reminded me of the benefits of the messy stove. Having a messy stove means I've been cooking. The remains of mac and cheese in the pot mean my children have been fed (it's summer, we eat mac and cheese often, don't judge). Remembering that my children have been fed means that God has provided food for us.
I also love to cook and bake, and that usually requires making a mess before enjoying the finished product. So when I see a mess of flour and measuring cups on my counter, it's a reminder that I've had a chance to do something I enjoy. And I can be thankful for that. Those scones in the bottom left corner of the picture above, very messy to make, but oh so good to eat.
Apricot jam is another messy endeavor. Well, maybe not for some, but it is for me! But it's worth the effort, because when it's done my family can enjoy it. And not only that, but I can also share it with others. Sometimes it takes messy work to invest in relationships, but it's so worth it.
Everyday life is messy. There are spills and crumbs and tiny scraps of paper left everywhere. Something God has been working on with me for almost the past eight years is the ability to let go of perfectionism. Not that my house has ever been perfectly, magazine picture clean and tidy. But realizing that relationships are more important than a clean house. Yes, I do still clean my house, but sometimes there are more important things. It may mean putting off cleaning up the kitchen in order to play a game with the kids or read them a book. I want my home to be a peaceful place, and if I am always stressed out about having a clean home and not making a mess, that will spill over on to my family.
So I'm learning to embrace the mess. To allow it to happen and offer grace. Because we can all use more of that.
