Mundane Tasks Are a Hidden Treasure

Word Filled Wednesday:

Proverbs 31:19 "In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers."

We are into week 11 in our Proverbs 31 series. So far we have seen that she rises early, works eagerly and vigorously, shops wisely, is extremely productive with her hands and she uses her evenings to get work done too!

Do you understand verse 19? The Proverbs 31 woman is spinning her own thread! The distaff is attached to the wheel that holds the flax. The spindle is the hand-held rod on which the thread is wound as it's spun.

Let me just say for starters - I cannot IMAGINE spinning thread to use to sew my family's clothing. What a burden! And I thought ironing was a burden! lol! Spinning the thread, to sew the shirt, that I am going to have to iron...now that's mundane hard work. And that's exactly the type of work the Proverbs 31 woman did.

Do you ever just feel like your tasks for the home are mundane, meaningless, never ending and repetitive? Should I really bother to wash that little hand print off of the window when I know it will magically reappear the next day? Should I really sweep under the lunch table? Dinner's coming and it will need to be swept again! Do I really need to dust? I can't write my name in it yet! Sometimes we ask ourselves these questions.

Housework is repetitive - if you do it! And the Proverbs 31 woman was willing to do the mundane task of sitting down, engaging her hands and mind and spinning the thread necessary to clothe her family, make garments to sell and to help the poor as we'll see in the very next verse.

What is the draw of Martha Stewart, Better Homes and Gardens and The Fly Lady? Innately we all dream of creating a perfect home - but in reality when the house is full of people, messes are being made every second of the day! A woman's work is truly never done!

I would like to believe that the Proverbs 31 woman may not have enjoyed every second of spinning her thread - it was mundane hard work. In the same way, we may not enjoy every minute of cleaning toilets or folding underwear BUT I think we all will admit that we love the feel of clean sheets on the bed, fresh towels in the bathroom, bathed babies in clean pajamas and a warm cooked meal on the table. The result of our hard work is a blessing to everyone who enters the doors of our home.

Now remember - if you are about to face crusty dishes in the sink and a pile of dirty laundry - DO NOT think for one moment God loves you any less. God does not base your worthiness of his love on the cleanliness of your home. We stand before God justified by the blood of the cross!

But I want to encourage you, do not grow weary in your mundane tasks. Mundane tasks are the hidden treasure to creating a home that is a haven. Embrace this hidden treasure as the Proverbs 31 woman did.

Walk with the King!