As for Me and My House-Week 2

     Welcome back, friends! So glad you're joining me for week 2 of this series. Today I wanted to discuss what it looks like to have a home filled with love. Love should be our number one priority, and our driving motivation. The Bible tells us that if we give all we possess to the poor, and have faith that can move a mountain, but don't love... we have nothing. Love was most certainly the language that Jesus spoke, and we should therefore speak that same kind of love into our families and homes.
    
     We can fill our homes with love in many ways. One way would be to speak words of encouragement to the members of our home. Build them up when they are in the home, because when they are outside of it, there are so many voices that will try to tear them down. We need to be purposeful to speak words of life to them, and not let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Eph. 4:29)

     Another way to show love in the home is by serving your family. Acts of service speak volumes when it comes to loving our families with all we have. Think about all the tasks we do as the women of the home. We make meals, we wash dishes, we wash clothes, we sweep, we mop...the list goes on. I personally have come to thoroughly enjoy cooking and cleaning, because for me, I see it as a way to show love to my husband. After working all day, I know he appreciates coming home to a warm meal and clean house. Some women would think I'm crazy for the statement I'm about to make, but I can honestly say that I love serving my husband. Yes, let me repeat that... I love to serve my husband!

     When we first married I was not a good housekeeper. I'm embarrassed to admit that, but it's the truth. We were newly married, I began a new career which required me to take college courses one night a week, I was involved in Bible study one night a week, and I did childcare at church one night a week. By the weekends, I just wanted to relax. I now realize that this was not only lazy, but very selfish of me as well. When I stopped looking at cleaning house as more and more for me to do, and started looking at it as a way to serve and show love to Jeff, it changed my whole mindset. It was no longer about me, but him.

     I have now found that it is so much easier to maintain a clean home. Obvious, I know... but sometimes my stubbornness causes me to be a slow learner ;) My typical cleaning schedule consists of dishes daily, laundry and vacuuming every other day, and a deep clean once a week. My deep clean consists of mopping the floors, scrubbing the toilet and sanitizing the bathroom, wiping down countertops, stovetop, etc., and vacuuming again. (I'm a little OCD when it comes to vacuuming my carpet. I just love to always see the lines, that's all :)

     By following this schedule during the week, it gives me the weekends to focus on other things that would otherwise be overlooked or forgotten. For example, two weekends ago my goal was to get all the baseboards wiped down, as well as the vents, and windows. Then, this past weekend I was able to oil the hardwood floors, cabinets, coffee tables, and bedroom furniture. This weekend, I plan on tackling our utility room...again. Is it just me, or is this one of the most difficult areas to keep clean?

     Lastly, a way to show love in your home is by simply showing affection. Don't be afraid to shower your family with hugs and kisses. I love getting a hug from my husband at the end of a long day and it fills me with so much peace to know that no matter what happens during the day, I get to come home to him. Besides, who doesn't appreciate a good hug? :)

     My challenge for you this week is to fill your home with love by using encouraging words and affectionate touch. These two are the most important. Then, if time allows, I would encourage you to pick one area of your home that could use a little TLC and tackle it. If cleaning is not a way in which you choose to serve your family, find something that will allow you to serve them. Perhaps for you it could be making a delicious meal.Whatever it may be, serve them well! Happy Homemaking, friends!

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