Friday, March 4, 2011

I Can't Lose

Ugh, some days I just want to bury my head in the sand. Or at least become a hermit and live in a cave where dishes and clothes wouldn't matter.

Since I can't do either of those (well, I guess I could do either one), I just have to tough it out.

If I am going to win the war against the dirty dishes, I must fight the battle and wash them.

If I am going to win the war against the mountain of clean clothes piled at the foot of my bed, I must fight the battle and fold them. AND put them away.

If I am going to win the war against the stuff that piles on the table and counters, I must fight the battle and keep the stuff put where it belongs. And "file it instead of pile it."

If I am going to win the war against not getting enough sleep, I must fight the urge to stay up late and just go to bed. And go to sleep instead of reading.

If I am going to win the battle and do my Bible Study Homework, I must fight and make it a priority and just. do. it.

*****
These are some things I have been struggling with a lot this year. I cannot use Susannah as an excuse. I cannot use being a mama as an excuse. I know this because looking through my lists LAST YEAR, when Susannah was only months old, I accomplished these things fairly regularly. I know I can do it again. I just have to be the boss of my "don't want to's" and tell myself that "oh, yes, I AM going to do those things!"

Just another post, keepin' it real here.

Plus, I can do ALL things through Christ, right (Philippians 4:13)? As Steve Green says, "not just some things, but ALL things."

10 comments:

Sally said... [Reply to comment]

Hey, are you o.k. over there? I know I'm in the battle every day, but the war is never over. I keep trying to focus on the big, big things, like Bible time and school. I only have one shot at my children's souls and minds, and I must take advantage of it. Please don't be too hard on yourself. Rather, sit down and figure out some hard priorities, and then work accordingly. If it's the garden, then some other things will go undone. Is it the house? Then the garden will go undone (or lacking). Is it cloth diapers and cooking from scratch? Then the other things will lag. Don't beat yourself up over not having everything in top condition. Even if Susannah is almost 1 yr. old. You're in this for the next 20 years, my dear!

Maria D. @ DownrightDomesticity said... [Reply to comment]

Word! I can't tell you how many times I just want to throw up my hands and say, "What's the use??" No matter what we do, the same things will need to be washed, tidied, vacuumed and fed forever. I'm glad you're determined to stay the course! Way to be honest about getting things done with a baby. It's oh so easy for me to use Baby D as a crutch for not getting anything done. Ouch.

Anonymous said... [Reply to comment]

Hey, I don't even have any kids and I have the same trouble. I think it doesn't matter the stage of life, there will always be things that easily take up our time and those mundane, never ending responsibilities get pushed to the back. I am in the process of trying to figure out how much is my responsibility and how much is unreasonable expectations. Whatever is responsibility I guess it would be wrong to despise and put/off. Whatever is unreasonable I guess it would be wrong to keep expecting that of myself. Sooo.... that is where I am at. Oh, there will always be something or someone to blame for the hog pen style of housekeeping. That is the fun part; learning to quit blaming others and circumstances! This is one piece of baggage I am determined to ditch this year!

Rachel said... [Reply to comment]

I forgot to put my name on my post!

Rachel

Elizabeth said... [Reply to comment]

I'm hiding behind my own pile of clean laundry I shouldn't admit to digging through to find clean school clothes for Zack today (hey, I threw them in the dryer for 5 mins to get the wrinkles out before he left!!). I guess I'm saying I totally get it. And sadly... I have used my kids as an excuse... and my pregnancy... and the winter blahs. Thanks for the realism... and the reminder. I need to go fold the few (seven) loads of laundry waiting for me.

Miriam said... [Reply to comment]

@Elizabeth I'm so glad I'm not the only one! Yesterday morning (Sunday) I threw a load of clothes in the washer and then dryer so we'd have clean clothes for church. Isn't that terrible?! For me, it's easy to blame it on X, Y or Z, but it all really and truly boils down to either me just wanting to be lazy or being tired from not getting enough sleep - which is still my own fault, at least right now!

Miriam said... [Reply to comment]

@Maria D. @ DownrightDomesticity Thanks for the encouragement! Where do I get the idea that if I ignore "it" long enough it will just go away? Hahahahahahahaha!!! Big joke. You're right about the "forever" part.

Miriam said... [Reply to comment]

@Sally Mm-yeah. It's the "next 20 years" part that is the big reminder that I need to get back in gear TODAY so I don't grump and groan away those years! None of those things are too much. Yes, it requires a juggling act and not everything will get done every single day, but instead of just giving up I need to keep going forwards.

Mama said... [Reply to comment]

I am right there with you sister!

Anonymous said... [Reply to comment]

well..... i don't have kids and i'm not preggo....so whats my excuse? Right now I can blame a broken finger, but when thats better, knowing me i'll have a broken leg to blame than the back door trots and than it will be hay season, etc, etc. Soooo I really don't know what the answer is. I figure a pile of clean wash is better than dirty and the same goes for dishes.... and a swept and unwashed floor is better than an unswept one. So...it could be worse!!!!