Proverbs 14:4 says, "Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox."
I never would have thought that this particular verse would stand out to me so much. I don't have oxen and I don't have a crib. Truth be told, I don't want either.
But I love this verse. I love it because every time I read it, this is what I hear:
"Where no children are the house is clean, but much joy is by the increase of children."
I have children, and I have a house.
My house is a mess, mess, mess. I always thought I would be one of those immaculate house keepers. You know, in my mind. When I was younger. Much younger. Before kids.
And my house was clean before kids. I still even did a great job with just one kid. But with each additional child those ideals ran right out of my head, and my house. Most days I feel like I'm fighting to just get the basics done.
But, oh, the joy! I never thought I could be so happy. Beautiful little people running around, making all kinds of messes. Not cleaning them up.
Then I have choices. After schooling my children all morning, I have so much to do, yet my heart yearns to play with my kids, to read to them, to cook with them, to put on the music and dance with them.
And the house is a mess. And I'm stressed. And I'm trying to be THAT person in my mind so long ago.
I think, "What kind of person do I really want to be? What do I want my kids to remember about their childhood? A crazy neurotic woman running around insisting everything be spotless, or a crazy fun mom that kept everything somewhat neat and had time to be with them."
One of these days they won't be here anymore.
The house will be clean.
But, the joy will be gone. The silliness, the laughter, the childlike faith, gone. And somehow, I don't think the spotless house will mean so much then.
I'm trying to enjoy every moment in the now. Every moment. Even the messy, not so great moments.
Like Elijah's moment the other day.
We were at church, (of course) and he came walking down the hall playing with a little brown ball. He was rolling it around in his hands, when it dawned on me he didn't come from home with a little ball. "Elijah, what is that?" I asked. "Poop," was his quick, matter of fact reply. It was one of those moments I wanted to go crazy. Thoughts spinning around in my head, "Why at church? Where did he get it? Who's poop is it? Do I really want to know???!! WHERE IS THE HAND SANITIZER??!! I stayed calm and asked, "Where did it come from?" (I figured it was better to know up front.) "Out of my pants," he answered in a sweet voice, obviously not bothered at all by the fact that he was playing with a poop ball. (Did I just say poop ball??) "Elijah! Where do we poop?" I asked emphatically. "In the potty," he replied. After all that's where he was headed with the ball in tow.....
Moments. Moments that make us laugh later. Memories. Memories that are cherished, but so easily forgotten. Children, the greatest gift God gives us as parents.
And I paraphrase,
"Where no children are the house is clean, but MUCH joy is by the increase of children." Proverbs 14:4
Enjoy every moment, and don't sweat the small stuff.
What a joy to read this blog. Jeri, I can vouch for the "untidy" house. I always consoled myself by saying, "This house really looks lived in". And that's what it's all about. Those little arrows in your quiver, those blessings from God, they are with you for such a short time, so enjoy them while you have them, mess and all. And, really, I'd much rather go into a home that looks lived in than one of those immaculate but cold "tidy" homes where the furniture is covered with plastic and the living room is roped off to keep it "perfect". I like pictures on the wall, clothes on the bed, and dishes in the sink better than cold, picture perfect, sterile houses where one is afraid to sit down for fear of leaving a smudge. God bless you home, dear niece. Uncle Frank.
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