Pauline’s Notebook

I couldn’t believe how much I was adversely affected by a household appliance that didn’t do it’s job - it bugged me and depressed me to no end - because it just didn’t do it’s job. It was my vacuum cleaner. I had waited for many years accumulating enough frequent flyer points to redeem this vacuum cleaner. Eventually, I had collected enough points and when I got my vacuum cleaner, I was NOT disappointed!! It has great suction and did it’s job well. After a few years of continual use, I recently found my vacuum cleaner was losing it’s suction. Vacuuming then became a pointless chore because I knew it wasn’t really cleaning my carpet anymore. It really depressed me - until my clear headed husband told me that the company who supplies this model would service it for me for a little charge. Now, that my vacuum cleaner is serviced, its like it has a new life and I enjoy vacuuming again - not because I love vacuuming per se, but because it blesses me with more things than I realized.

In the midst of my renewed zeal for vacuuming, I realised that housework is indeed a real blessing (if the appliance does it’s job). Housework or household chores are a blessing because it allows me to ponder and meditate on God’s Word and on Heavenly things as I do my work. No other job will allow me to do that, so I thank God for housework. I thank God that it is a role (though often described as mundane), has it’s godly purpose. Housework enables me to keep my house in order. It also allows my husband and children to take pleasure in their environment no matter what they are doing in the home. And above all, it is a job that actually rewards me by allowing me to spend time with God at the same time!!

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thess 5:18

“.. do all to the glory of God.” 1 Cor 10:31

“… then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. ” Matt 13:43