tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post5246544768323503631..comments2023-07-06T06:04:07.849-07:00Comments on Sister, Daughter, Mother, Wife: Why I’m Grateful to My Friends for Cleaning Their HousesAnna Mussmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11631139113615066986noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post-33012744346814874932021-04-01T09:47:17.395-07:002021-04-01T09:47:17.395-07:00Thank-you for sharing your insights, Anna. It'...Thank-you for sharing your insights, Anna. It's so true that the keeping of our homes in a way that invites beauty and peace among all who are within those spaces is a good and worthy thing. I love how you pointed out that it is not law or condemnation of oneself that should spur toward orderliness but rather grace filling us for those moments of keeping the home as they come. The mundane everday has its tremendous moments of happiness and that can be in our hearts even as we mop the floor twice a year, if that's what we can manage.<br /><br />I think there are definite seasons of degree of cleanliness in the home. It took my fourth child's beautiful arrival to make me aware of those odd moments, as you mentioned, as a pressure free time to fold laundry or clean the bathrooms. No longer did I feel pressed to clean while the children slept or spend so much time anxiously thinking about what a chore and how impossible it can seem to be to housekeep as a mother of young children. Now its easier to grab that moment to clean the bathroom as the children play or wipe a couple windowsills. A paid housekeeper no longer seems as something I'd want or need, as I dreamed of after my third child's birth.<br /><br />Much grace, oh yes. Moment by moment...<br />Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04338927075656501045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post-32399893610252465272021-02-18T08:41:25.585-08:002021-02-18T08:41:25.585-08:00Ace: I'm glad it's encouraging! From my ow...Ace: I'm glad it's encouraging! From my own experience I'd say never reject the possibility of actually getting rid of some of the stuff--or at least (if it's seasonal or belongs to the kids) boxing it up and rotating it. It can't get spread around the house if it's in a box under the bed. ;-) Not always so easy to do, though, I know.Anna Mussmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11631139113615066986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post-16329043333919761582021-02-15T21:44:21.663-08:002021-02-15T21:44:21.663-08:00>>It seems to me that online discussions abo...>>It seems to me that online discussions about looking after one’s house are a bit like discussions about achieving a healthy body weight.<br /><br />Hear, hear. "Make your house nice, you'll be so happy you did!" is, to some people, every bit as helpful, encouraging, and useful as, "Lose weight, you'll be so happy you did!" is to others.Rebekahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11129136210164478753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post-22280173232024061982021-02-15T09:53:12.374-08:002021-02-15T09:53:12.374-08:00Cleaning has never been an issue for me, it's ...Cleaning has never been an issue for me, it's the decision making of where to put things that has always been oppressive to me. It gets exhausting and I never feel like I have a good system in order. I struggle with having a thankful heart because I find myself wanting to throw everything away rather than deal with organizing! But this is an encouraging post and I will remind myself that this is an important task and service to my family and friends.Acehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10365452155277862949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post-76486494206067258432021-02-12T07:09:42.497-08:002021-02-12T07:09:42.497-08:00This is beautiful, Anna. Thank you.This is beautiful, Anna. Thank you.M.Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06840123070805078740noreply@blogger.com