"Mundane tasks are the hidden treasure to creating a home that is a haven." ~Courtney Joseph
I used to complain a lot that the dishes are never done. When we were living in Thailand, we'd eat out all the time and our apartment was small, so I didn't mind household chores too much. Or maybe it was because we were newly weds, and I still enjoyed the newness of being a wife and serving my husband by cleaning and doing both our laundry.
Then we moved to the US, and my attitude changed. I had to shop for groceries, cook, and clean. Once you cook, then you clean, and the cycle starts over again. Before I got a job, I enjoyed trying new recipes and saving money by not eating out. However, eventually I got a job working outside the home, and household duties began to quickly lose their luster.
When I got pregnant, I really couldn't do as much as I used to. That was when I had to sit down and talked with my husband and asked him to help me more around the house. Praise God my husband was willing to step up to the plate. Still, there were times when I resented cooking, doing dishes and laundry--the mundane tasks in life.
One day, I stumbled upon this book called Women Living Well by Courtney Joseph. What she shared about how our attitude should be when we do the mundane tasks in the house changed me. I never realized how doing chores has any connection to God. It was something I have to do; otherwise, I get annoyed when I come home to an untidy house. I can't stand seeing dishes piled up in the sink. I get "visually stressed" out when my house is cluttered or dirty.
Now, I still do the same chores except cleaning the toilet and the sink. My husband took over those duties because I can't stand the chemicals while being pregnant. But I believe something in me has changed. I have learned that whatever I do, I can do it for the glory of God ( 1 Corinthians 10:31), and that includes something I once thought was so tedious as chores. These mundane tasks can have an eternal impact! Glorifying God is not just about being up on the pulpit or attending church meetings. Daily hard work can bring " a blessing to everyone who enters our home," and that includes my husband and I. And one day it will include our unborn son as well.
