Isaiah 32:17-18 And the work of righteousness will be peace, And the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever. Then my people will live in a peaceful habitation, And in secure dwellings and in undisturbed resting places.
When my kids were just toddlers, I was a very busy mom. I was involved in so many ministries and community outreaches that I was rarely at home. One day a mentor of mine shared the above verse with me. She challenged me to manage my household in a way that would invite peacefulness, quietness, confidence and contentment. It was not an easy conversation. I wish I could say that I was mature enough to heed her advice but I wasn’t.
A few years went by and we were about to move for the 4th time in seven years. By now our children were 6 and 3. In the midst of that move my husband asked me to refrain from getting involved at our new church for one year. I was appalled. How dare he request that I not continue my volunteer efforts! After all, most were for the kingdom!
It was then that I was reminded of my tough conversation a few years earlier with my mentor. I went back to Isaiah and began to pray and meditate on the verses she shared with me. And over the course of that next year, God gave me a burning desire to turn my home into a sanctuary. To guard our family calendar. And to teach my kids about choosing wisely when it came to getting involved in activities, balancing school and eventually managing their own time as they went off to college.
As moms, we carry the lion’s share of keeping our households sane and running smoothly. Last minute surprises contribute to stress but you can alleviate some of it by creating and establishing simple routines. I want to share a few tips here to help you manage your home in a way that invites peacefulness and contentment.
- Bill paying – Have a “home” where you can place bills until the time comes to pay them. Knowing that they’re not lost in that stack of paper on your kitchen counter will give you real peace of mind. Keep stamps and envelopes in the same location as well. To save even more time, use automatic bill pay or online banking.
- Laundry – do one load of laundry each day. Using a 3-bag laundry sorter (be sure to get the kind where the bags can easily lift out) will help the family to sort their dirty clothes each day. Designate bags for whites, darks, and colors. As the bags fill, you can quickly do a load – the sorting is already done. This saves you countless hours. Go one step further and purchase a sorter for each child’s bedroom or bathroom.
- Plan out evening meals – Ever had the 3:00 dilemma – “What should we have for dinner tonight?” Do yourself a big favor and plan out your meals for 1-2 weeks. You can still grocery shop on a weekly basis but the planning portion will be done. At the end of a busy day, you’ll love knowing that the Dinner Dilemma is solved!
- Mail– Establish a specific place where you’ll handle the mail. Having a file box and shredder nearby will help you make decisions on what needs to stay and what gets to go.
- Coffee – program your coffee maker each night after doing dinner dishes so you’ll be able to wake up to your favorite cup of Joe. Now you’re ready to handle any surprises that come your way!
© Audrey Thomas
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