“What you must do is this: rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks. I am not all the way capable of so much, but those are the right instructions.”
-From “Hannah Coulter” by Wendell Berry
Sometimes I approach house cleaning with excitement. The smell of the different cleaning products I’ve come to love (a big draw) . . . the soon-to-be-had satisfaction of sitting in a wonderfully clean and organized space . . .the sense of accomplishment I know that will give my day . . . Frequently when I’m done cleaning the house, I light a candle and just sit in a chair with my hands folded in my lap to soak up the goodness of my surroundings.
I’d also like to mention that our new toilet-cleaning solution smells like a breath mint. The last time I cleaned, as I scrubbed the toilet and the breath-minty scent surrounded me, I, um, well . . . well, I started to salivate. Yes, I wanted to eat the breath mint that my senses were telling me was inside our toilet. I’m starting to get a little worried here. Salivation and toilet-cleaning are two things that just shouldn’t be happening together. Thankfully our off-brand glass cleaner smells like a fresh spray of cat pee, and that just about evens things out.
Nothing like the scent of urine all over your bathroom mirror. But I’m too cheap to throw it away and let it go to waste.
Anyway, even though house cleaning can be a pleasurable experience, I’ve also have the struggle we’ve all had: I approach it with dragging steps, tempted to be resentful against something or someone for this work I have to do.
I’d like to issue a challenge for those of you who, like me, can be disgruntled house cleaners: pray your way through cleaning! There are three prayers that have helped me have a better attitude, and can make cleaning a place of peace for me when I have the discipline to switch my focus:
1. Giving thanks for the object I’m cleaning
As I spray furniture polish on our coffee table, I thank God for giving us a coffee table. I love it! I frequently put my feet up on it, or use it to make my cup of coffee readily available. Then I remember that my Dad made the coffee table and I thank God for my Dad and the fact that we have a beautiful example of his handiwork in our livingroom. As I clean the toilet, I thank God for indoor plumbing! I’m not a fan of outhouses, and I’m glad to be living in a time and place where I can go to the porcelain throne with my needs instead 0f a stinky hole in the ground. As I dust off our photographs, I thank God for the people in them–like these two young lovebirds at about 19 years of age.
As I clean the floor and windowsills, I thank God for our apartment, this structure that keeps us warm and dry in the winter and cool in the summer. I thank God that we have enough money to pay rent every month, and that we can get maintenance done for us with a simple phone call to our landlords.
2. Prayer that I will be a good steward of the things I’m cleaning
God has given us many material blessings that I am so grateful for. He can also take them away, and he will be equally loving and equally in charge of our provision. But while we have these things, I believe we are called to take care of them. God has given me carpets to keep our feet warm in the winter and to make the hardwood floors more cozy, and I want to take good care of those carpets and keep them clean. I believe he takes pleasure in order and beauty–you can see that by his design in nature–and I get to reflect those qualities by making the surroundings in my own home orderly and beautiful.
3. Prayer that I will hold on to these things lightly, and that my treasure will be in heaven
The book of Job is a prime example–God’s name is blessed whether or not he gives us comfortable, plentiful, and beautiful material goods. God could call us to sell all our things and go minister to a leper colony in the mountains somewhere–who knows. OK, maybe that’s unlikely, but we could lose our financial stability and be forced to ‘downgrade’ our lifestyle. He may ask us to increase our tithing, preventing us from buying that new bookcase we were wanting, or to start donating to a homeless shelter even though we just lost our job and simply don’t see how our funds will stretch. I don’t want my heart to cling to these things that we have. I can’t think of them as “mine”–God has chosen to share them with me at this time in our lives, and they are his to take away as well. We may not always be able to afford a nice apartment, or the luxury of using AC whenever we want in the summer. My heart needs to be free, with my hands clinging tightly to Him and not to these objects. Only then can I fully enjoy these things, when I am holding loosely. If not, they are a cage, a burden, and a necessity to me. And when desires become needs (‘I need an espresso machine’ versus ‘I would love to have an espresso machine’), the objects of our desire quickly take God’s place on the throne of our hearts. Ironically–and whether you believe in God or not–you will enjoy your material possessions much more once you let go of them in your heart.
See–I’m even cracking a smile at the stinky glass cleaning solution.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this, whatever your beliefs may be. I know we all come from different backgrounds and are walking different paths, and that’s part of what makes your comments so interesting! Have a great weekend everyone!
Too cute and funny! Yes, we rejoice in all things, especially when we clean since as homemakers, we do a lot of it! Thanks for the reminder, Jenna!
How did you know that I cleaned my carpets yesterday? Alas, I was not as good-natured about it as you were. Too fun!
hey, come over here and help me with my cleaning!! haha jk, ur probably exhausted. i usually get pumped too when im in a cleaning mode.. kind of get myself into a frenzy.. then pay for it when i crash later in the day lol.
xoxo
it’s okay to dump the urine-smelling glass cleaner! some vinegar & water does the job nicely (if you don’t mind the smell of vinegar!). Thanks for stopping by my place…I’ve browsed backwards in your blog and am enjoying the reads! Good thoughts on praying as you clean…I’m currently weeding out our belongings…have so much to get rid of…and it is making me so very grateful for all we’ve been given.
I browsed back far enough to see that you know my friend Jenny (Words on Wendhurst)…she’s pretty swell 🙂
I agree–Jenny is awesome. Thanks for the vinegar/water tip–I may just have to throw away our current glass cleaner. It really does smell ridiculously bad.
Jenna, what a lovely idea about the praying! Also, I must admit that I am quite…entralled by certain cleaning products. I have quite a penchant for Pledge. If only I had more wood surfaces that needed polishing!
Btw, I finally nailed down a copy of Winds of Chance. Just finished the 3rd chapter…’Tis fabulous! quoth I.
I’m so glad you like Winds of Chance!! =) That makes me happy.
I’m so glad you like Winds of Chance!! =) That makes me happy.
beautiful words coming from my beautiful girl. I couldn’t agree with you more, like we talked last weekend. Continue to share that love sweetie.
P.S. Any advice on tackling dish-washing? Hehe. I’m dreading that pile of wine glasses and such staring me in the face from the sink. I need gather the strength to attack it.
Um . . . invite me over and we’ll do the dishes together and have a dishwashing singalong? =)
Jenna, I read this at just the right time, sitting on the loveseat in my kitchen, feeling totally overwhelmed as I look around at the lumber and boxes and drywall dust. But I’m grateful for all of it, and I’m happy to clean it (vinegar water – Yes.).
By far this is one of my favorite blog posts…ever…on anyone’s site!
1) It is FUN! and made me laugh!
2) It is sound advice… I actually am excited to get down & dirty with my kitchen this weekend & try out your strategies 🙂
3) We have the same lysol stuff for the toliet and YES it is so breath-minty…we have a really small guest bathroom & if you shut the door while cleaning, the whole room sort of smells like it.
4) I think praying thru pet hair pick-up would be a good addition to your idea…cause some days I want to shave them bald!
– jessie
Thanks Jessica! =) I’m going to have to apply my own principles this weekend as we scrub and wax the (disgusting) kitchen floor . . .
what a lovely idea! i usually just clean in a hurry and try to get on with it. or i complain and my husband feels bad and then helps. (but even if he doesn’t he still does the dishes every night & vacuums most of the time!)
Though I found and read this post a *little* late, it was right on time! I have to clean today, so thank you for this fresh perspective, Jenna. (teehee… get it? *fresh* perspective? 😉 One other thing that helps the process for me is music. This used to be a point of irritation, as my mom would blast Gather Reunion CDs first thing on Saturday mornings, but now that I have control over the playlist, it works well. 😉 Jill Phillips’ modern renditions of hymns (in her album “Kingdom Come”) refresh my heart, mind and spirit while I refresh my carpet, furniture and bathroom sink.
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Not sure how you came to visit me this week, but I am so thankful that you did. Your simple prayer thru cleaning has touched my heart at a time when life is stressful and challenging in ways that make tasks like cleaning the apartment hugely frustrating. But we have so very much to be thankful for in the midst of all circumstances. I clicked on this post because of the fun title, I look forward to reading more when I have some extra time. Blessings on your continued journey:)
Thank you for writing this. I’m in the dreading stage of clean up with vacation
Bible school starting tonight. I will def pray while cleaning.
After my cancer,chemo and all the side effects that pop up and the lost of my husband ,i feel mentetally and emotionally drained .Then can the grand kids,cut when they were baby’s but now at age 7 and 8 the sure make a mess.M health and energy are not what they used to be and age 63 what just to be my pride and joy of a spotless home,looks like a place that need “clean Home “to step in.Trying to de clutter and keep a clean home has turned into a major disaster.Lacking energy and keep postponing thing.I know things will never be the way the used to be,but they could be better then they are now.Thanks for your tips maybe looking at things this way I can get a go at it.
Hi Nana,
I’m so sorry to hear about your difficult situation. My heart goes out to you!
I needed this! We have two dogs now together in our home and it’s been hectic and frustrating as the new dog (is now in the home where the older dog lived prior to us moving in) and needless to say the old dog kept trying to tell the new one this was her house marking it everywhere. As I clean I’m thankful for the new unity with my new husband and his dog and mine, which are now OUR dogs, lol.
Yay! I’m so glad this post was timely for you. Thanks for reading and I hope the dogs are not causing you too much trouble this week. =)
“1. Giving thanks for the object I’m cleaning.”
You’d think this would be a no brainer, wouldn’t you?! And yet I haven’t given it a thought. Thanks for the idea. I’m tackling a complete home makeover, starting today, and this week really help!
Wow, good luck with your home makeover! Sounds intense. Hope the results are wonderful and the process not too painful!